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!.

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CHAIRS
Lenore Cooney
Sara Herbert-Galloway
Errol Rappaport
Gary Springer

HONORARY CHAIRS
Ambassador and Mrs. John L. Loeb, Jr.
Heather Randall
Liv Ullmann and Donald Saunders
Nick Springer

HONORARY COMMITTEE
Iris Apfel
Michael Badalucco
Susan and Hon. James A. Baker III
Deion Branch
Steve Buscemi
Victor Calise
Commissioner for the Mayor’s Office
for People with Disabilities
U.S. Senator Susan Collins
Darius de Haas
Roque de la Fuente
Jamie de Roy
Judy and Rod Gilbert
Adam Graves
Lynn Grossman and Bob Balaban
State Senator Jack Hart, Ret.
Felicity Huffman and William H. Macy
Helen and Michael Kaplan
Lainie Kazan
Amy Madigan and Ed Harris
Michael H. Michaud
Assistant Secretary,
U.S. Department of Labor
James Naughton
Kyle Rudy
Susan Sarandon
Richard Thomas

BENEFIT COMMITTEE
Jeri Acosta
Chuck Armstrong
Tomaczek Bednarek
Lynn and Alan Bozof
Joyce Brooks
Lori and Curt Buher
Lorraine Cancro-Silvetz and
Robert Silvetz, MD
Elizabeth Cier
Rita Cosby
Mark Evangelista
Nicole and Jeff Fratarcangeli
Jeri Brooks Greenwell
Jonathan Hadaya
Paul Hampton
Laurie and Ken Hartwig
Charlotte and Harvey Hodges
Lucia Hwong-Gordon
Susan James
Marcie L. Kammel
Barry J. Klarberg
Marian Koltai-Levine and Dan Levine
Donna and Michael LaForgia
Lucy Jane Lang
Barbara Ligeti and Jeffrey Altshuler
Kelly and Paul Lountzis
Annie Ma
Leslie Maier

Cindy Marinangel
Kevin McGovern
Sherri Michelstein
Esther Muller
Rey Olsen
Susan and Peter Purdy
Joe Sirola
Jennifer and Ricky Sitomer
Gary Swanson
Joe Trentacosta

ASSOCIATES COMMITTEE
Samantha Bennett
Anna and Carl Buher
Alana Galloway
Justin Galloway
Gunjan Goel
Allie and Matt Klarberg
Kate and Jake Klarberg
Nikki Klarberg
Ryan Klarberg
Sorcha McCrohan
Dell Miller
Andrew Molen
Jorel Roth
Brooke and Lee Scharfstein
Gary Schneider
Jason Werner

MEDICAL COMMITTEE

Richard Besser, MD
President and CEO
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Paul J. Lee, MD
Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center
South Nassau Communities Hospital

Paul A. Offit, MD
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

William Schaffner, MD
Department of Preventive Medicine
Vanderbilt University

Steven E. Schutzer, MD
Professor of Medicine
Rutgers New Jersey Medical School

Nancy Snyderman, MD
Professor of Global Health
Stanford University

James C. Turner, MD
National Social Norms Institute
University of Virginia

Roger W. Yurt, MD
NY Presbyterian Hospital
Weill Cornell Medical Center

As of April 1, 2018
National Meningitis Association

NMA works to protect families from the devastating effects of meningococcal disease by educating the public, medical professionals and others about the disease and vaccines available to prevent it. NMA was formed in 2002 by parents whose children died or live with permanent disabilities from meningococcal disease. Like many families, NMA’s founders were unaware that meningococcal disease vaccination could have prevented their anguish. Since NMA was founded, great strides have been made in meningitis prevention. NMA has supported the creation of broad recommendations for meningococcal vaccines to protect all preteens and teens, worked to advocate for state vaccination requirements, and helped increase awareness and vaccine uptake. The organization also provides emotional support for individuals and families who have experienced meningococcal disease.

To accomplish its goals, NMA develops programs and resources that reach audiences on national and grassroots levels. Parents, disease survivors and other family members help carry out NMA’s mission by conducting community awareness activities across the country through two key programs: Moms on Meningitis (M.O.M.s) and Together Educating About Meningitis (T.E.A.M.). For disease and prevention information, downloadable resources and personal stories from M.O.M.s and T.E.A.M. members, please visit nmaus.org.

Lynn Bozof, President • Lori Buher, Director • Leslie Maier, Secretary/Treasurer

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