The meningococcal vaccine is safe and effective. As with all vaccines, there can be minor reactions, including pain and redness at the site of injection, lasting one to two days. You cannot get meningitis from the vaccine, because it is synthetic; there are no live bacteria in the vaccine.

Yes, side effects can result from smallpox vaccination. Mild reactions include swelling and tender lymph nodes that can last two to four weeks after the blister heals. Up to 20 percent of people develop headache, fatigue, muscle aches, pain, or chills after smallpox vaccination, usually about eight to 12 days later. Some individuals may have rashes that last two to four days.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice has also recently recommended giving the vaccine to all 11 and 12 year old children, or unvaccinated teens at high school entry. Because these are only recommendations and not state of Ohio requirements, most insurance companies do not cover this immunization. The meningococcal vaccine is not considered useful in early meningococcal outbreak management.

Meningococcal meningitis is a bacterial infection of the membranes around the brain and spinal cord that is fatal in approximately 10% of cases. It is spread through contact such as kissing, sharing kitchen utensils like drinking glasses, and sneezing. The American College Health Association and the Centers for Disease Control recommend that college students who are freshmen and live in a dormitory get the meningitis vaccine.

Yes, a safe and effective vaccine is available. The vaccine is eighty-five percent to one hundred percent effective in preventing four kinds of bacteria (serogroups A, C, Y, W-135) that cause about seventy percent of the disease in the United States. The vaccine is safe, with mild and infrequent side effects, such as redness and pain at the injection site lasting up to two days. After vaccination, immunity develops within seven to ten days remains effective for approximately three to five years.

Allergic reactions could occur after any vaccine. Pain or tenderness, swelling, or warmth at the injection site may occur in about 25 percent of people who receive the vaccine and last one to two days. About 3 percent of people will have muscle or joint aches, flu-like symptoms, fever, or chills. Tests of vaccine safety and effectiveness are not complete for children younger than 15, so preventing tick bites is the recommended alternative until a vaccine becomes available.

With both forms there will be a wide variation in exactly how the disease affects a sufferer in the long term. Tiredness, recurring headaches, short-term memory difficulties and concentration problems are often reported, as are temper tantrums, forgetting recently-learned skills and babyish behavior in children. Mood swings, aggression, balance problems and clumsiness can all make daily life difficult both for the sufferer and his/her family and friends but these should pass in time.

Most individuals will experience no side effects from the influenza vaccine. Less than one-third of those who receive the vaccine will have some soreness at the vaccination site, and about 5% to 10% will experience a headache or a mild fever. The most serious side effect that can occur after an influenza vaccination is an allergic reaction in individuals who have a severe allergy to eggs. For that reason, people who have an allergy to eggs should not receive the influenza vaccine.

The meningococcal vaccine has an excellent safety profile. Side effects are mild and infrequent, consisting primarily of redness and swelling at the site of injection lasting up to two days. Meningococcal immunization should be deferred during any acute illness. The vaccine should not be administered to women who are pregnant or individuals sensitive to thimerosal or other components of the vaccine.

The most common side effects are mild and may include pain and redness at the injection site. Fever and fussiness may also occur. A rash may develop at the spot where the shot was given. Applications for new permits or to renew a permit can only be obtained through the Sheriff's Office. Applications are available at the Sheriff's Offices in Evanston and Mt. View.

We encourage you to discuss with your family physician the advisability of getting the meningitis vaccine. It is available at the Health Center and can be paid for at the time of service or billed to your university account.

The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine prevents meningitis and encephalitis (a much more severe infection of the brain than meningitis) caused by the measles and mumps viruses. There are no vaccines available against the common causes of viral meningitis.

The Center for Disease Control recommends that all incoming freshmen receive the meningitis vaccine. In accordance with these recommendations, incoming students living on and off campus should be immunized against meningitis. On-campus waiver forms, for medical or religious exemption, are available on the Residence Life Web site and during Residence Life check-in at the start of each semester.

The vaccine is very safe and adverse reactions are mild and infrequent, consisting primarily of redness and pain at the site of injection lasting up to two days.

The vaccines used to protect against meningitis are safe. When side effects occur, they are usually mild. Local reactions, such as a sore arm at the site of the injection, are fairly common with some of the vaccines. Mild fever may also occur. More information about the side effects of the meningitis vaccines can be found on the vaccine side effects web page.

Meningitis is an infection of the fluid of a person's spinal cord and the fluid that surrounds the brain. Meningitis is usually caused by a viral or bacterial infection. Knowing whether meningitis is caused by a virus or bacterium is important because the severity of illness and the treatment differ.