Voices of Meningitis campaign to urge parents to vaccinate preteens
and teens in Charlotte against meningococcal disease, a rare but
serious bacterial infection that can cause meningitis and take the
life of a child in just a single day.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other leading
medical groups recommend vaccination for preteens and teens 11 through
18 years of age, and college freshmen living in dormitories. Yet
despite these public health recommendations, only 30 percent of
adolescents 13 through 17 years of age have been immunized in North
Carolina, which is far below the CDC's goal of a 90 percent
vaccination rate in 2010.
"School nurses are on the front lines with students every day, and our
mission is to keep our students safe and healthy," said Denise
McIlwain, school health supervisor, Mecklenburg County Health
Department. "School nurses in Charlotte have joined Voices of
Meningitis to help raise awareness and encourage parents to speak to
their child's school nurse or other health-care provider about
meningococcal vaccination before coming back to school."
Paul Harrison of Chapel Hill, NC, who lost his daughter, Julia, to
meningococcal meningitis when she was a sophomore in college, has
joined the SNANC's Voices of Meningitis campaign to reinforce that
vaccination is the best protection available against the disease.
Since Julia's death, Harrison has worked to secure legislation that
requires all North Carolina colleges to educate incoming students
about the disease and vaccination. Due to his efforts, all North
Carolina college students are now required to indicate whether they've
been vaccinated. Currently, he leads a Duke Endowment funded statewide
grant program to increase vaccine compliance for North Carolina
adolescents by encouraging North Carolina primary care physicians to
recall adolescents regarding all CDC recommended vaccines.
"I've joined as a 'voice' of meningitis to share my personal story
with the community and encourage local parents, preteens and teens to
learn about the dangers of meningococcal meningitis and how to help
prevent the disease," said Harrison.
About 10 percent of the 1,000 to 2,600 Americans who get meningococcal
disease each year will die. Death rates are up to five times higher
among teenagers and young adults compared with other age groups. Of
those who survive, one in five is left with serious medical problems,
including amputation of limbs, brain damage, deafness and organ damage.
"We all are 'voices' of meningitis and it is our responsibility to
spread the word and do everything we can to help prevent this
devastating disease," said McIlwain. "Every health-care visit is a
vaccination opportunity."
About Voices of Meningitis
Voices of Meningitis brings together the many "voices" of meningitis –
school nurses, parents whose children have been affected by the
disease, survivors of meningococcal meningitis, and public health
professionals – to raise awareness about the dangers of meningococcal
meningitis and the importance of prevention for preteen and teenage
children.
Voices of Meningitis includes educational materials for the public and
health-care providers, as well as a public service campaign featuring
school nurses, disease survivors, and families affected by
meningitis. The campaign also features a comprehensive website,www.VoicesOfMeningitis.org
, where visitors can hear the compelling stories of families that have
been personally affected by meningitis and access educational
information about the disease and the importance of vaccination.
About Meningococcal Disease
Meningococcal disease is a serious infection that can cause meningitis
(swelling of the brain or spinal cord) or meningococcemia (blood
infection). The disease can be spread through common everyday
activities, such as sharing eating utensils and drinking glasses,
living in close quarters like dormitories or overnight summer camps,
and kissing. Meningococcal disease can be hard to recognize,
especially in its early stages, because symptoms are similar to those
of more common viral illnesses. Unlike more common illnesses, the
disease can progress quickly and may cause death or disability in just
a single day.
Public health officials recommend meningococcal vaccination for
preteens and teens 11 through 18 years of age, college freshmen living
in dormitories and children 2 through 10 years of age who are at
increased risk or if elected by their health-care providers and parents.
Vaccines are available for people who wish to reduce their risk for
contracting the disease.
About the National Association of School Nurses
The National Association of School Nurses (NASN) is a non-profit
specialty nursing organization, organized in 1968 and incorporated in
1977, representing school nurses exclusively. NASN has over 14,000
members and 51 affiliates, including the District of Columbia and
overseas. The mission of the NASN is "to improve the health and
educational success of children and youth by developing and providing
leadership to advance the school nursing practice." The School Nurse
Association of North Carolina (SNANC) is an affiliate of the NASN.
For More Information
For more information about the Voices of Meningitis educational
initiative, visit www.VoicesOfMeningitis.org. For information about
the National Association of School Nurses, visit www.nasn.org or call
866-627-6767. For state specific information, select "Affiliate
Organizations" under "QUICKLINKS" on the NASN homepage.
Voices of Meningitis is a program of the National Association of
School Nurses in collaboration with sanofi pasteur, the vaccines
division of sanofi-aventis Group.
