Conn. requires vaccination for on-campus students

(U-WIRE) STORRS, Conn. — A state law now requires all Connecticut college students living in university housing to get the preventative vaccine for Meningoccal disease.

Meningitis is a bacterial infection that is potentially deadly.

The state law, which takes effect this fall, requires students who attend colleges or universities in the state, public or private and live in housing must receive the vaccine.

State Rep. Mary Eberle, D-Blumfield, the co-chair of the public health committee said the vaccine is very safe and is a preventative measure for students.

The Centers for Disease Control’s Web site states that meningitis is an infection of spinal cord and the fluid that surrounds a person's brain. It also states the difference between viral and bacterial meningitis is very important in treating it. According to the Web site, viral meningitis is can be taken care of without specific treatment while bacterial meningitis can be treated with antibiotics.

Michael Kurland, director of Student Health Services at the University of Connecticut, said that Connecticut is the only state that requires college students living in housing to have the vaccine.

According to the state law, by the 2002-2003 academic year students are required to have had the vaccine if they choose to live in campus housing.

The law does provide for a student who has conflicting religious beliefs or a physician’s note stating the vaccine would be medically unsafe for the student.

—The Daily Campus

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