From Where I Sit
Meningitis poses threat to all
Cara Anthony
Editor in Chief
Issue date: 10/29/07 Section: Forum
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About 85 percent of TSU students who live on campus signed a waiver form stating that they have not received a vaccination shot for meningitis.
This statistic is alarming, considering that a case of bacterial Meningitis was recently found just a few miles away from TSU's campus. A student at Vanderbilt University was diagnosed about three weeks ago during the university's homecoming weekend.
Although TSU students that live on campus are required to sign a waiver that confirms receiving or not getting a shot , it is scary to think about the number of students that live off campus who not required to sign a waiver. I believe the percentage of TSU students that have not been vaccinated may be higher if a census of the entire student body was taken. Quite possibly 95 percent of the student body could be at risk of contracting meningitis because they have not been vaccinated. Students that are not vaccinated pose an emanate threat to the entire campus.
In my opinion whenever students, are given the opportunity to promote healthy living on campus they should take advantage of that chance, even if it is something as simple as getting a shot. That one shot could help stop the spread of a deadly disease.
Around the country, a debate on whether or not vaccination should be mandatory has become common among university officials. However, because of the allergic reaction that the vaccine may cause and doubt that the vaccine is necessary, the shot has not become mandatory. I think it should be mandatory; there are too many people on college campuses that are being affected by meningitis. This is in large apart because of the lifestyles college students lead.
If a person is a carrier of the disease it is easy to spread. Living in dormitories, sharing drinks or cigarettes and kissing are possible ways that the disease can be contracted
Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, which is the lining that protects the brain and spinal cord. The infection can be caused by bacteria but is more commonly cause by a virus. The symptoms of meningitis are similar to those of a cold or flu, and they can develop over several hours or in one to two days.
This statistic is alarming, considering that a case of bacterial Meningitis was recently found just a few miles away from TSU's campus. A student at Vanderbilt University was diagnosed about three weeks ago during the university's homecoming weekend.
Although TSU students that live on campus are required to sign a waiver that confirms receiving or not getting a shot , it is scary to think about the number of students that live off campus who not required to sign a waiver. I believe the percentage of TSU students that have not been vaccinated may be higher if a census of the entire student body was taken. Quite possibly 95 percent of the student body could be at risk of contracting meningitis because they have not been vaccinated. Students that are not vaccinated pose an emanate threat to the entire campus.
In my opinion whenever students, are given the opportunity to promote healthy living on campus they should take advantage of that chance, even if it is something as simple as getting a shot. That one shot could help stop the spread of a deadly disease.
Around the country, a debate on whether or not vaccination should be mandatory has become common among university officials. However, because of the allergic reaction that the vaccine may cause and doubt that the vaccine is necessary, the shot has not become mandatory. I think it should be mandatory; there are too many people on college campuses that are being affected by meningitis. This is in large apart because of the lifestyles college students lead.
If a person is a carrier of the disease it is easy to spread. Living in dormitories, sharing drinks or cigarettes and kissing are possible ways that the disease can be contracted
Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, which is the lining that protects the brain and spinal cord. The infection can be caused by bacteria but is more commonly cause by a virus. The symptoms of meningitis are similar to those of a cold or flu, and they can develop over several hours or in one to two days.
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