HEAR HOW ONE COLLEGE STUDENT’S LIFE CHANGED FOREVER AFTER NEARLY DYING FROM A VACCINE-PREVENTABLE DISEASE

Dr. Len Friedland, practicing physician, vaccine researcher and Vice President and Director, Scientific Affairs and Public Health, Vaccines, GSK

Jamie Schanbaum, meningitis survivor, US Para-athlete and GSK spokesperson

BACKGROUND
It’s that time of the school year where teens and young adults are counting down the days to the holidays and a much-needed break from classes. In 2008, Jamie was a college freshman getting ready to complete her first semester and head home for the holidays when her life changed forever. In just 24 hours, she went from being a healthy college student to fighting for her life after contracting meningococcal disease, also known as meningitis. Jamie spent seven months in the hospital, ultimately losing both of her legs below the knees, and all of her fingers due to the disease. While many colleges require MenACWY vaccination, MenB vaccination has only been available since 2014, and most colleges still do not require it. She is sharing her story to ensure that parents are aware there are 2 different types of vaccines to help prevent meningitis – one for MenACWY, and one for MenB, , to help other families avoid her experience. During the pandemic, it’s more important than ever for parents to educate themselves and utilize the vaccines available to help protect their kids against vaccine-preventable diseases they may be at risk for, like meningitis.

DID YOU KNOW?
• Meningitis is an uncommon, but serious illness that can cause life-threatening complications, or even death. Early symptoms of meningitis may be similar to those of the flu, but can progress quickly and can be fatal, sometimes within 24 hours. ,
• Up to 1 in 5 meningitis survivors suffer long-term consequences, such as brain damage, amputations, hearing loss and nervous system problems. Among those who contract meningitis, 1 in 10 will die, despite treatment, sometimes in as little as 24 hours.7
• Teens and young adults are at an increased risk for contracting meningitis because it can spread through certain common behaviors such as living in close quarters like college dorms, kissing, and sharing drinks, utensils, or smoking devices.4,
• From 2011 through March 2019, meningitis B (MenB) caused all US college meningococcal outbreaks, which involved 13 campuses, 50 cases, and 2 deaths among an at-risk population of approximately 253,000 students.

VACCINATION IS STILL IMPORTANT
• Even if your college-aged children are not attending in-person classes due to COVID-19 precautions, they may still be at risk for diseases like MenB.4
• Your teen or young adult may have received MenACWY vaccination when they were younger, but most have not yet received MenB vaccination, which only became available in 2014. Recent CDC data show that still, only about 1 in 5 17-year-olds in the US received at least one dose of MenB vaccination in 2019.12
• Winter break is a good time to schedule a wellness visit and talk to your child’s doctor about the two different types of vaccines to help prevent meningococcal disease – one for MenACWY and one for MenB.2,3

Interview opportunities are courtesy of GSK

Visit www.meningitisB.com for more information and resources to bring to your child’s next wellness visit.

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The post HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS: WHAT PARENTS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS NEED TO KNOW appeared first on Good News!.

Do you have vivid dreams or sometimes laugh so hard your knees give way? It could mean you have narcolepsy – the chronic neurologic condition where the brain is not able to control sleep-wake cycles normally. If you do, you’re not alone. It’s estimated that 1 in 2000 people in the U.S. experience this condition, but more than half of them don’t know they have it. Now, one woman who was finally diagnosed with narcolepsy is on a mission to educate others about it. UNC professor Julea Steiner has teamed up with Jazz Pharmaceuticals to share her story. She, joins us now with more. www.morethantired.com
Bio
Julea Steiner
Julea Steiner is a sleep health advocate and Assistant clinical professor and director of professional development in the Public Health Leadership Program at the University of North Carolina. After suffering with sleepiness and cataplexy for more than 20 years, she was finally diagnosed with narcolepsy at age 36.
Before she was diagnosed, Julea felt tired all the time and experienced vivid dreams and hallucinations. She saw a number of doctors who misdiagnosed her with everything from ADHD to vitamin deficiency until finally one physician suggested she go in for a sleep test. Julea is passionate about raising awareness about narcolepsy. She encourages others to explore their symptoms and break through the cultural stereotypes of the disorder.

The post Julea Steiner, Chronic Neurologic Condition appeared first on Good News!.