As students settle into the school year at Arizona’s three universities, they might consider getting the meningitis B vaccine — especially if they live in a dorm. Over the last several years, there have been outbreaks of meningitis B at college campuses across the country.
Living in close quarters and sharing drinks are some ways young adults can contract the disease, according to Dr. Karen Lewis of the Arizona Department of Health.
"The statistical significance for a risk was actually found in freshman students who were living in dorms," said Lewis. "So it’s still a very low risk to get a meningococcal infection, but when you do, it’s a very serious disease."
Lewis said in June the Centers for Disease Control voted to give a “permissive” recommendation to the vaccine in ages 16 to 23 — meaning it is not required.
