SDSU Continues to Offer MenB Vaccinations
SDSU is continuing its educational efforts, in partnership with county officials, to support the health and safety of its community following the announced MenB outbreak on campus.
Approximately 8,000 students have been vaccinated against meningococcal serogroup B (MenB), as San Diego State University and its county partners continue a major education campaign about the disease.
A series of clinics have been held on campus this fall, and students aged 23 and younger are still encouraged to get vaccinated by contacting their medical providers or pharmacists. Students are recommended to call ahead to ensure the vaccine is available.
County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, in consultation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, declared a meningococcal serogroup B outbreak at SDSU in October 2018. The outbreak was declared after three SDSU students were diagnosed within a 3.5-month period. No additional cases have been confirmed at SDSU.
“From day one, we have worked to help students understand the urgency and how they can best protect themselves from the disease,” said Dr. Cynthia Cornelius, medical director at SDSU Student Health Services.
“Many students did not receive the MenB vaccine while in high school, but did receive vaccination for other meningitis serogroups,” Cornelius said. “Because this disease is life-threatening, we want students to understand that a prompt diagnosis and treatment are both critical.”
SDSU and its partners continue to urge that all undergraduate students 23 years of age and younger check their immunization records and get vaccinated with the meningococcal serogroup B (MenB) vaccine, if not already completed.
“Undergraduate students 23 and under not yet vaccinated should get vaccinated and those who have only received one dose should get the second,” said Dr. Wilma Wooten, the county public health officer.
Meningococcal infection is a potentially fatal disease and can be transmitted through close contact with those who are ill. Early symptoms may resemble the flu and include high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, rash, nausea, vomiting and lethargy.
Two MenB vaccines exist: Trumenba and Bexsero. Both were approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2014 and 2015, respectively. Both vaccines require multiple doses to be fully effective. Bexsero requires two doses one month apart; Trumenba normally requires two doses six months apart, but an extra dose should be received one month after the first dose during an outbreak.
To enhance information about meningococcemia and to encourage students to receive the MenB vaccine, SDSU’s Division of Student Affairs has also worked with campus and county partners to launch and lead a comprehensive communications and educational campaign, said Andrea Dooley, associate vice president of Student Affairs, who oversees campus student health programs and services.
Through this campaign, team members have produced educational materials; led a social media campaign, also producing short videos correcting misinformation about the disease; launched a centralized webpage; and presented meningococcal information to students in residence halls, in classrooms, and through their organizations. Through faculty support alone, the team was able to reach 3,000 students.
“We appreciate how proactive our students have been in seeking out information about the meningococcal infection and in actively pursuing the MenB vaccine,” Dooley said. “This is aiding in our overall effort to ensure that our campus community is healthy and safe.”
For undergraduates age 23 and younger, if you have not received the MenB vaccine, you should:
- Promptly contact your healthcare provider to explore MenB vaccine options.
- Contact a local pharmacy to receive the vaccine (make sure you call ahead to check that the MenB vaccine is available and your insurance is accepted).
- Or, make a daytime appointment for a free immunization at Calpulli Center by calling Student Health Services at 619-594-4325 or by going online to healtheconnect.sdsu.edu
Also, to ensure our vaccination records are accurate, students are asked to upload a copy of their immunization record to healtheconnect.sdsu.edu if they received the MenB vaccine at a location other than a campus clinic.
Additionally, the university will hold a series of Winter Wellness Clinics beginning Dec. 10-21 and again, Jan. 7-18. The clinics are also an opportunity for students who have received their first MenB vaccination to acquire their second dose at no cost.
