Meningitis Vaccine To Be Available At Princeton Within 2 Weeks
PRINCETON, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A meningitis vaccine not yet licensed for use in the U.S. will be made available at Princeton University beginning Dec. 9.
The Ivy League school has experienced an outbreak of type B meningococcal disease, which is sometimes life-threatening. Since March, seven Princeton students and one student visitor have been stricken by the bacterial illness.
Under state law, anyone living in dorm rooms must have vaccinations against other strains of meningitis. The vaccinations, however, do not cover type B.
Last week, the Food and Drug Administration, along with school officials, approved importing a vaccine not yet approved in the U.S. for limited use at the New Jersey campus. The vaccine, Bexsero, is approved for use in Europe and Australia.
Princeton said Tuesday that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has now officially recommended all undergraduate students, graduate students living in dorms, the Graduate College and annexes, and employees with certain medical conditions receive the new vaccine.
The first dose will be available Dec. 9 through 12, and the second dose in February.
A case of meningitis was also reported at Monmouth University last week, although the strain has been not been disclosed.
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