Recommended Immunizations

Vaden Health Center recommends the following immunizations based on the risk of first-year college students contracting these conditions.

Meningococcal Meningitis                

What it is: Inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord caused by a bacteria

Symptoms: Fever, severe headache, stiff neck and mental changes, accompanied possibly by a flat red rash, particularly on arms and legs

Prevalence: Relatively rare, although there are 1.5 cases per 100,000 in the USA for all ages. Recent evidence indicates that first-year students living in residence halls are at higher risk, however.

Seriousness: Meningococcal disease can lead to death within 24 hours.

Shot effectiveness: Moderate. The vaccine is about 85 percent effective against the strains of bacteria it addresses. Yet it doesn’t protect against meningococcal type B, which accounts for about 30 percent of cases in college students.

Recommendations: Public Health experts recommend that students who live in group residences and dormitories consider getting this vaccine, especially first-year undergraduates. Others at higher risk are people with weakened immune systems and those who travel to high-incidence areas.

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Hepatitis B

What it is: Hepatitis B is a viral infection of the liver that can lead to liver failure, liver cancer or death.

Symptoms: There may be none, especially in infants or young children. However, it can also bring on fever, abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting, diminished appetite or jaundice.

Prevalence: It strikes about 5 percent of adults in the USA and more in other areas.

Seriousness: Potentially very serious.

Shot effectiveness: Extremely effective. This is the only vaccine that can prevent a sexually transmitted infection.

Recommendations: We strongly recommend getting this shot. This is especially recommended for the following groups of high-risk people:

  • Health care workers
  • Men who have sex with men
  • People who are sexually active
  • Those who have multiple sex partners
  • Anyone who has had a sexually transmitted infection (including HIV)
  • People who use injectable drugs or live in a household with a Hepatitis B carrier 

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Chickenpox

This immunization series of two inoculations is recommended for adults who have not had chickenpox.

Hepatitis A

We recommend this injection for travelers, food handlers, men who have sex with men and those with certain chronic diseases. 

Tetanus and Diphtheria (Td)

This booster is recommended every ten years (sooner if you sustain a substantial wound or injury).

Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (Tdap)

We recommend adults 19 to 64 years of age substitute Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis for one booster dose of Td. Then use Tetanus and Diphtheria for later booster shots. 

Measles and Rubella

This immunization combination is so important that it’s required for new students (to prevent the possibility of a campus epidemic).

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Flu

Flu shots are recommended for the following groups of people who are at risk for serious complications from influenza:

  • People 50 years of age or older
  • Those with chronic heart or lung conditions, including asthma
  • Anyone needing regular medical care
  • Those with a metabolic disease (such as diabetes), chronic kidney disease or a weakened immune system
  • Women who will be more than three months pregnant during the flu season

The flu vaccine is also recommended for students or others in institutional settings (such as those who reside in dormitories). Anyone who wants to lower their chance of getting influenza can also get a flu shot.

Gardasil

This vaccine series of three shots is for girls and women from 9 through 26 years of age. It is used to protect against the following diseases (caused by Human Papillomavirus types 6, 11, 16, and 18):

  • Cervical cancer
  • Abnormal and precancerous cervical lesions
  • Abnormal and precancerous vaginal lesions
  • Abnormal and precancerous vulvar lesions
  • Genital warts

Gardasil helps prevent, but will not treat, these diseases.

Pneumococcus

This injection is recommended to prevent some types of pneumonia in people with certain chronic diseases.

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