Community Settings as a Risk Factor
College students, especially those who live in dormitories, are at a slightly increased risk for meningococcal disease compared with other persons of the same age. Many states have adopted legislation requiring colleges to provide information on risks of meningococcal disease to incoming students and/or students residing on campus, and some have mandated vaccination for certain students, unless a vaccination waiver is provided.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has issued the following recommendations regarding the use of vaccines for college students:
- College freshmen living in dorms are recommended to be vaccinated with meningococcal conjugate vaccine. If they received this vaccine before their 16th birthday, they should get a booster dose before going to college for maximum protection.
- Colleges who have requirements for vaccination of matriculating students should consider a vaccine received within 5 years before matriculation as valid.
- The risk for meningococcal disease among non-freshmen college students is similar to that for the general population. However, the vaccine is safe and effective and therefore can be provided to non-freshmen.
Images and logos on this website which are trademarked/copyrighted or used with permission of the trademark/copyright or logo holder are not in the public domain. These images and logos have been licensed for or used with permission in the materials provided on this website. The materials in the form presented on this website may be used without seeking further permission. Any other use of trademarked/copyrighted images or logos requires permission from the trademark/copyright holder...more
This graphic notice means that you are leaving an HHS Web site. For more information, please see the Exit Notification and Disclaimer policy.
Killer at college: Meningitis threatens students
Fight of her life
Watch a video from MSNBC about a college student who contracted bacterial meningitis and survived.
Contact Us:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Rd
Atlanta, GA 30333 - 800-CDC-INFO
(800-232-4636)
TTY: (888) 232-6348 - New Hours of Operation
8am-8pm ET/Monday-Friday
Closed Holidays - cdcinfo@cdc.gov