The University of Oregon began administering the Meningitis B vaccine on Monday morning at Matt Knight Arena, beginning the large-scale vaccination enacted after the death of a student by meningococcal.
The vaccine will be offered until March 5 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The vaccination is a response to the meningococcemia outbreak that culminated in the death of Lauren Jones, a member of the Oregon acrobatics and tumbling team.
Barnhart Hall residents were issued antibiotics the night of Jones’ death. This week’s event was reserved for when the university could acquire the 22,000 doses of the vaccine.
The Health Center also has a fact sheet on the disease.
In 2013, 550 cases of meningitis were reported across the nation. Between 150-200 of them were caused by strain B of the infectious bacteria, The Oregonian reported.
One of the two vaccinations recently approved by the FDA to treat the B strain is called Trumenba. The vaccination is a series of three shots. The vaccine is gauged to treat patients between the ages of 10-25, and was created by Pfizer.
According to Trumenba protocol, students are advised to get the second vaccine within two months, and the third vaccination within six.
The price to get vaccinated on campus is $170 and is covered by most insurance providers, however according to Deb Donning, a risk manager at UO, no student will be turned away due to lack of insurance
Three thousand students have already been vaccinated, according to the Register Guard.
The arena isn’t the only place to get a vaccine. Here’s a map of local pharmacies, including Albertsons, Safeway and Walgreens, where you can get vaccinated.
The University Health Center website has more information on the cost of the vaccines and for a list of required items.
Meningitis vaccinations begin at University of Oregon, other Eugene locations (map)
Eric Schucht
March 2, 2015
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