Despite concern over a meningitis case in Thurston Hall late last week, the University will continue to refrain from mandating the vaccine for incoming students.
Under D.C. law, universities must require their students to be vaccinated for tetanus, mumps, rubella and chicken pox before entering college. However, 20 states have legislation requiring students to either receive a vaccination for meningitis or be informed about the consequences of the disease prior to enrollment.
The meningitis vaccine does not protect against viral meningitis, which landed the male GW student in the hospital Wednesday night. Viral meningitis is not contagious nor can it be prevented.
The meningitis vaccine prevents against four strands of bacterial meningitis, including meningococcal - the most dangerous form of the disease.
Protection against the sometimes deadly meningococcal meningitis is not required by the District.
University physician and Director of Student Health Administration Isabel Goldenberg said GW does not mandate the meningitis vaccine mainly because it is not required by law.
"When you give a public health recommendation there are many things that go into it - cost, how long it lasts, risk of having a problem and how compliant (students will be)," Goldenberg said. "It's loaded, difficult."
She also said 90 to 95 percent of the population would have to comply with the rule in order for the vaccine to be effective, which would be tough to enforce because it is not mandated by law.
"You don't know how many parents say they don't want their children to be immunized for basic immunizations," she said.
However, the University strongly recommends students get vaccinated for meningitis. Currently, 60 to 70 percent of students have received the vaccine, Goldenberg said.
The University offers vaccine clinics at the beginning of every semester for $85. They will be given in Thurston Hall on Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and in the Hall on Virginia Avenue on Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m. The vaccinations remain effective for three to five years.
Under D.C. law, universities must require their students to be vaccinated for tetanus, mumps, rubella and chicken pox before entering college. However, 20 states have legislation requiring students to either receive a vaccination for meningitis or be informed about the consequences of the disease prior to enrollment.
The meningitis vaccine does not protect against viral meningitis, which landed the male GW student in the hospital Wednesday night. Viral meningitis is not contagious nor can it be prevented.
The meningitis vaccine prevents against four strands of bacterial meningitis, including meningococcal - the most dangerous form of the disease.
Protection against the sometimes deadly meningococcal meningitis is not required by the District.
University physician and Director of Student Health Administration Isabel Goldenberg said GW does not mandate the meningitis vaccine mainly because it is not required by law.
"When you give a public health recommendation there are many things that go into it - cost, how long it lasts, risk of having a problem and how compliant (students will be)," Goldenberg said. "It's loaded, difficult."
She also said 90 to 95 percent of the population would have to comply with the rule in order for the vaccine to be effective, which would be tough to enforce because it is not mandated by law.
"You don't know how many parents say they don't want their children to be immunized for basic immunizations," she said.
However, the University strongly recommends students get vaccinated for meningitis. Currently, 60 to 70 percent of students have received the vaccine, Goldenberg said.
The University offers vaccine clinics at the beginning of every semester for $85. They will be given in Thurston Hall on Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and in the Hall on Virginia Avenue on Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m. The vaccinations remain effective for three to five years.
