Dallas County meningitis vaccine shortage impacting college enrollment

by BRETT SHIPP

WFAA

Posted on January 6, 2012 at 5:36 PM

Updated today at 5:37 PM

DALLAS -- State lawmakers this past year had good intentions when they mandated new college students to be vaccinated for Bacterial meningitis. But some say lawmakers created big problems for students by not supplying enough of the vaccine to go around.

When Texas A&M student Nico Williams died from bacterial meningitis last February, lawmakers passed a law to protect other students.

Starting this semester, all new Texas college students must be vaccinated before they enroll.

To help, the lawmakers created an affordable, $10 per shot vaccine.

The problem, just days before classes begin, is Dallas County Health officials have run out of the vaccine.

"We did our part in terms of getting the vaccine in,? said Zach Thompson, Dallas County Health and Human Services Director.??We started early in getting the information out but it's beyond my control in terms of the vaccine getting here."

Dallas County ordered 50,000 doses from the state.?Only 4,000 doses have been delivered.

Jermeshia Mays needed the vaccine to be able to enroll at Eastfield College Friday.?She said she got the last $10 dose in the county.

"My name was already on the list,? said Mays. ?I was the last person to get it because I had to wait for my shot records but my name was already on the list so I got it."

Eastfield College enrollee Christina Herman said she is not getting the vaccine. She is getting an exemption.

She not only objects to being forced to get the vaccine, she contracted meningitis when she was twelve years old.

"It was pretty horrifying,? said Herman.??I was in the hospital for a couple of days and it was very painful but we caught it very late.?

Eastfield College is granting temporary waivers to students until the county can get more $10 vaccines. Those possibly vaccines should be in by the middle of next week.?Students who can afford it can still get the vaccine from their regular physician for about $150.

E-mail bshipp@wfaa.com
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Source: http://www.wfaa.com/news/health/Dallas-County-vaccine-shortage-afflicting-college-enrollment-136839408.html

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