On call: Vaccine may help control a lethal infection
Vaccine may help control a lethal infection
Q. My 18-year-old daughter has just been accepted at college. She is up to date on all her immunizations except for a meningitis vaccination, which the university health service recommends but does not require. Do you think she should get the shot?
A. Bacterial meningitis is a life-threatening infection of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. Over the years, three types of bacteria have accounted for most of the cases in Americans. A vaccine is available for each, but their effectiveness varies.