Princeton University provided the first dose of the meningitis B vaccine to recommended campus groups on Dec. 9, with 1,959 individuals vaccinated by the end of the first day. The vaccine clinics are being held on Dec. 9-12. During the first hour of the clinic, lines to receive the vaccine moved steadily and students reported reasonable wait times.
Since March 2013, there have been eight cases of meningococcal disease associated with University students and a student visitor, all of which were caused by meningococcal bacteria known as serogroup B.
Last month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended that all Princeton undergraduate students; graduate students living in undergraduate dormitories, the Graduate College and annexes; and other members of the University community with certain medical conditions receive the vaccine to help protect against meningococcal disease caused by serogroup B bacteria.
These groups were recommended to receive the vaccine because young adults and people with certain medical conditions are at increased risk of getting meningitis, especially those who live in close quarters such as dormitories.
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