Meningitis Vaccination Policy

TLU strongly recommends that all first year students, especially those living in on-campus housing, be immunized with meningicoccal conjugate vaccine (MCV4). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that college freshmen living in the close quarters of residence halls are at a higher risk for meningicoccal disease compared with peers the same age who are not attending college.

Meningicoccal disease strikes up to 3,000 Americans, killing 300 people every year. Ten to 12 percent of people with meningicoccal disease die, and among survivors, up to 15 percent may suffer long-term permanent disabilities including hearing loss, limb amputation or brain damage.

The disease often begins with symptoms that can be mistaken for common illnesses, such as the flu. However, meningicoccal disease is particularly dangerous because it progresses rapidly and can kill within hours.

The vaccine, manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur and marketed as Menactra, is available at the TLU Health Center. The student is charged for the cost of the vaccine only. Contact the University Nurse at canderson@tlu.edu for more information.