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March 13, 2002

“Guarding Against Meningitis”

Washington Post (www.washingtonpost.com) (03/12/02) P. F7; Knich, Diane

The Meningitis Prevention and Awareness Children’s Trust (MPACT), which was formed by parents whose college-age children died from meningitis, aims to educate people about the disease.  The group, noting that students living in dorms on college campuses have a slightly higher risk of contracting the disease than [most] others do, recommends that parents get their children vaccinated against meningitis and supports legislation that requires the vaccine for all college freshmen.  Currently, only five states require the meningitis vaccine for these students, with legislation pending in six other states.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3,000 people in the United States contract meningitis each year, and 10 percent of those cases result in death.

ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.