Meningitis Supply Limited As Demand Increases In Dallas
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Dallas County Health and Human Services announced that it has a limited amount of the Adult Safety Net Program meningitis vaccine for $10.
With school starting soon, DCHHS' Adult Immunization Clinic has seen an increase in demand. Those needing the vaccine are encouraged to receive their vaccine sooner rather than later.
"DCHHS is committed to keeping students and their families updated on the status of our meningitis vaccine supply," said DCHHS Director Zachary Thompson. "It's unfortunate that more of the vaccine that can be offered at a discounted rate isn't as available as we would like it to be. When we run out of Adult Safety Net Program meningitis vaccine, no additional vaccine will be available."
New state legislation requires that all new, transferring and re-enrolling public and private college students under the age of 30 are vaccinated against bacterial meningitis before they can attend classes on campus.
Clients eligible to receive Adult Safety Net Program immunizations at DCHHS must be uninsured.
College students are especially at risk to the potentially deadly disease because of their age and proximity to others in close living quarters.
Bacterial meningitis is caused when the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord becomes infected and inflamed. The disease is spread from person to person when respiratory secretions are passed by coughing, sneezing, kissing and sharing personal items such as drinking and eating utensils.
DCHHS offers the meningitis vaccine to students 19 years old and older in the Adult Immunization/Foreign Travel clinic in Room 141 on the first floor of the DCHHS building at 2377 N. Stemmons Freeway in Dallas.
Clinic hours are from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Appointments are not necessary. For more information, call 214-819-2162.
(©2013 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
Latest News:
Top Trending:
