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Most colleges and
universities require all incoming students
to receive or show proof of having had
the following vaccinations: |
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MENACTRA |
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Even though college freshmen living in dormitories
are five times more likely to get meningitis, most
states recommend protection for all college
freshmen. Because this is such a serious threat, we
want you to be fully informed about this deadly
disease.
**Although college freshmen are given the
opportunity to sign a waiver to keep from taking the
Hepatitis B vaccine and/or the meningitis vaccine,
it is VERY IMPORTANT that they understand the
risks they are taking by refusing the vaccine. When
you weigh the risks versus the discomfort or expense
involved in taking these important vaccines, it is
evident what the choice should be!
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Losing your limbs or
even your life is not a reasonable risk you should
take,
especially when these vaccines are readily
available and proven to be lifesaving. ** |
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HEPATITIS B |
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Hepatitis B is a
sexually transmitted disease that is also spread by
tattooing, body piercing and sharing drug
paraphernalia. Hepatitis B is 100 times more
infectious than HIV/AIDS. In the U.S., more than 1
million Americans are chronically infected with
Hepatitis B, and 5,000 people die each year from its
serious consequences, which include cirrhosis and
liver cancer. Hepatitis B vaccine protects nearly
all who are in contact with blood, body fluids or
used needles. You should have received three doses
of Hepatitis B vaccine by high school graduation.
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MEASLES/MUMPS/RUBELLA |
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If you are not already
immune, you should be vaccinated now. Persons born
after 1956 should get at least one dose of MMR
vaccine unless you have had each one of these
diseases. Many schools require two doses of the
vaccine or a blood titre that shows you have had the
diseases. |
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TETANUS/DIPHTHERIA |
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Everyone needs a booster every ten years whether you
have injured yourself or not! Tetanus lives
everywhere...in the dirt, on rusty equipment, garden
mulch and in your pets’ intestinal tracts. Make
your next dose ADACEL to also protect you from
Pertussis (whooping cough). |
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VARICELLA
(CHICKENPOX) |
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Varicella is a highly infectious disease that can be
rapidly transmitted in schools and dormitories. If
you have not had chickenpox, you should get the
vaccine right away. Two doses are now
recommended for lifetime protection. |
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INFLUENZA |
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You
need a flu vaccination EVERY YEAR! Living in
dormitories and attending large classes with other
students makes it more likely you will be exposed to
the flu! Meningitis feels like the flu when it
first starts, so get a flu vaccination so you can
tell the difference! And remember, you CANNOT get
the flu from the vaccine! |
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This information was
compiled from information published by Medimmune,
Inc., the CDC,
the ACIP and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. |
