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January 10, 2003

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Some Students Search for Shots; County Doesn't Have Meningitis Vaccine Yet" Tallahassee Democrat Online (www.tallahassee.com/mld/democrat) (01/10/03) P. A1; Nelson, Janie

Students who are planning to live on Florida's college campuses are finding the meningococcal meningitis vaccine elusive, despite a mandate by the state Legislature requiring it.  The University of Florida will not provide immunizations until students are actually enrolled, and one student who will be taking classes there this summer notes that he has been trying, without success, to get the shots elsewhere.  The student's doctor sent him to the Leon County Health Department; however, officials there currently have no meningitis vaccine, though they hope to have some in two or three months.  The problem stems in part from the fact that vaccine manufacturer Aventis Pasteur stopped selling the vaccine in single-dose vials; the vaccine is now available only in 10-dose vials, and it is viable for only 10 days after it has been opened.

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