The odds of contracting meningitis are about the same as getting struck by lightning, but the Centers for Disease Control and the American College Health Association think those odds are too great.
The CDC and ACHA have strengthened their recommendations for college freshmen to get immunized against meningitis before moving into residence halls. But ASU has no plans to require enrolling students to get the vaccine.
"ASU does strongly recommend all freshmen get vaccinated," said Dr. Stefanie Schroeder, chief of the medical staff at the Student Health and Wellness Center. "But, the administration costs are huge to require the vaccination to enroll, and the financial burden is just too great."
Schroeder said the cost to the University to ensure everybody was vaccinated would be around $16,200 a year.
Meningitis is a bacterial infection of the meninges, the linings of the brain. In extreme cases, the loss of limbs and even death is possible within hours of contracting the disease.
About 300 college students a year contract the disease. The last case of meningitis at ASU was in 1996, Schroeder said.
But the risk of contracting the disease is three times higher for students living in residence halls because of the close quarters.
Undeclared sophomore Trisha Thompson said she doesn't think the immunization is needed because the chance she'd actually contract the disease is small.
"It's not like it's the flu or something," said Thompson, who did not get vaccinated before moving into a residence hall her freshman year.
The recommendation by the CDC and ACHA isn't new, but after a new vaccine, Menactra, became available last spring, the push to have colleges require the immunization has increased.
"Menactra is a lifelong immunization," Schroeder said. "The old vaccine (meningococcal conjugate) required the student to be re-immunized every three years."
Many universities across the country require new students to be vaccinated.
"They are usually private universities, though," Schroeder said.
UA and NAU do not require freshmen living in residence halls to be immunized.
Schroeder said more freshmen have opted to get the vaccine this year than last.
"I got vaccinated a week before I came to ASU," undeclared freshman Callie Switzer said. "ASU is so big, and the people are coming from everywhere, so it would be good if they required it."
The new vaccine has become so popular at the health center that it is currently out of stock. Several students have been put on a waiting list.
This is in response to the nationwide shortage of the drug after the CDC and ACHA made the new recommendations.
But the old vaccine is still available for students who wish to be immunized right away. The cost is $98 per shot, as opposed to $108 for Menactra.
Reach the reporter at kristi.eaton@asu.edu.
