Hey Hot Shot! Are you Immune Aware?

Do you know which immunizations are recommended for college students? Are your immunizations up-to-date? Although there are no required immunizations for MSU students, four vaccines - for meningococcus, varicella (chicken pox), hepatitis B and tetanus/diphtheria are strongly recommended for MSU students. It is smart to be knowledgeable about those and other available immunizations in order to make an educated decision about whether or not to receive the shot(s). Keep in mind that each immunization has different risks associated with it, just as the risks vary with each of the diseases they may protect you from. Costs for each vaccine varies, as do your own personal risk factors. The choice to immunize is yours - Olin Health Center wants to help you make an informed choice.

Listed prices include an administration fee and are subject to change.

Influenza "Flu"
Influenza (or "flu") is a viral infection of the respiratory tract (nose, throat, bronchial tubes and lungs). The virus is spread through the air or by direct contact. Flu symptoms may include fever, chills, headache, general achiness, sore throat, cough, and intestinal symptoms. Most people are ill for a few days, although extreme cases may require hospitalization. In the US, flu usually occurs between November and April. The flu vaccine should be given in October or November for adequate protection, and must be repeated each year for continued protection. The flu shot will not protect all persons from the flu, nor will they protect against all strains of flu or illness caused by other viruses. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the flu vaccine for individuals wishing to reduce their chances of catching the flu. Cost: $58. Side effects: Possible tenderness at injection site, fever, muscle soreness. Allergic reactions occur rarely.

Meningococcal Disease
Meningococcal meningitis and meningococcemia are acute bacterial diseases spread by direct contact with an infected person, especially from respiratory droplets from the nose and throat. Untreated, meningococcal disease is almost always fatal. The meningococcal vaccine, given as an injection, provides active immunity against some types of meningococcal disease. There are many serogroups of meningococcal meningitis, with the current vaccine being effective against A, C, Y and W-135. It has an estimated efficacy of 85-90%. It does not protect against serogroup B which accounts for approximately 46% of meningococcal disease cases in the US. (The vaccine also does not protect against other types of bacterial meningitis or viral meningitis.) Vaccine is indicated for travelers to countries recognized as having epidemic meningococcal disease. The American College Health Association has recently issued the recommendation that college students consider receiving the vaccine. Cost: $189. Side effects: Infrequent and mild, possible tenderness at injection site.

Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is an infection of the liver caused by the Hepatitis B virus (HBV). Many people have no symptoms and are unaware they are infected. Others may experience jaundice, extreme tiredness and loss of appetite, while a small percentage may become chronic carriers of Hepatitis B for life, with a high risk of developing serious long-term liver disease. Transmission of HBV may occur through transmission of infected blood or blood products, through the use of contaminated syringes and needles or other dental and medical instruments. HBV can be contracted by any behavior in which a person's mucous membranes are exposed to an infected person's blood, semen, vaginal secretions or saliva. The Hepatitis B vaccine is actually a series of three vaccines. The completed course of vaccine is 80-100% effective. Routine immunization is recommended for all infants, as well as, children and adults who are at increased risk of Hepatitis B infection, including health care workers, those sexually active with multiple partners, users of injectable drugs, recipients of large quantities of blood products, and travelers to areas outside of the USA that have high hepatitis B risk. Cost: $108 per injection (age 19 or younger) or $125 per injection (age 20 and older). Side effects: Possible redness, swelling at injection site; fatigue, fever, headache and nausea. Allergic reactions are rare.

Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is a viral disease causing inflammation of the liver. It is the most common type of hepatitis worldwide. The virus is usually transmitted by contaminated food and water or by contact with an infected person. Although Hepatitis A disease usually does not last longer than 2 months, symptoms of fever, fatigue, and loss of appetite may last as long as 6 months. High risk areas are in under-developed countries where poor sanitation results in fecal contamination of ground water, tap water, and well water. The Hepatitis A vaccine Havrix is a sterile solution of inactivated virus, given intramuscularly. It is recommended for frequent travelers or persons planning extended travel to areas with high risk for Hepatitis A. A second dose of Havrix given 6 to 12 months after the primary vaccination ensures the highest antibody levels, possibly 100% immunity. Cost: $85 per injection (age 18 or younger) or $139 per injection (age 19 and older). Side effects: Possible pain, swelling at injection site, fatigue, fever or nausea.

Measles/Mumps/Rubella
Measles, mumps and rubella are viral illnesses spread by droplet infection or direct contact with an infected person. Measles and rubella are especially dangerous during pregnancy. Mumps can cause sterility in males. The Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccine is a live virus vaccine given as an injection. The first one is usually given between 12 and 15 months of age. A booster is usually given at age 4-6 or 11-12 years. All adults born after 1956 should have had two doses of vaccine. The second dose of measles vaccine may increase immunity levels to as high as 99%. Pregnancy should be avoided for at least 3 months after receiving the MMR vaccine. Cost: $110. Side effects: Possible burning, pain, redness, rash at injection site. Possible flu-like symptoms.

Varicella (Chickenpox)
Varicella (chickenpox) is a highly contagious viral illness spread by breathing in droplets from an infected person's cough or sneeze, or by direct contact with fluids from an infected person's blister-like vesicles (sores). Individuals are infectious starting 1-5 days (usually 1-2 days) before the onset of rash, through the first 4-5 days of illness, or until the lesions have formed crusts (scabs). Adults may have more severe illness with a higher incidence of complications. It is strongly recommended that college students who have not had chickenpox receive the vaccine. The varicella vaccine, Varivax, is an attenuated live-virus vaccine, which provides about 70-90% protection for the prevention of chickenpox. The vaccine is given in two doses, with the second being 4-8 weeks after the first. Vaccine recipients may be capable of transmitting the vaccine virus to close contacts, and therefore, should avoid close association with any high risk individuals (i.e., newborns, pregnant women, immuno-compromised persons). Cost: $158 per injection. Side effects: Possible pain, swelling, and rash at injection site. Fever and general varicella-like rash, cough, headache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting and allergic reaction may occur.

Additional immunizations for young adults to consider include the following:

Tetanus/Diphtheria (Td) Cost: $56 or Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis (Tdap) Cost: $89. Td shots should be given every 10 years. After age 11, adolescents should receive one lifetime tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis vaccine as one of the Td booster shots. Students should check to see whether they have received Tdap yet, and note the date Tdap and/or Td was last received.

Pneumovax (Pneumonia) Cost: $91.


Immunizations are available at Olin Health Center Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4:30 pm. Services are by appointment only (call 353-4660).

The Olin Health Center prices listed are subject to change. Most insurance plans do not cover the cost of immunizations for adults. Individuals are advised to check with their health insurance plan regarding coverage. Local health department prices may be less expensive.

For more information about these or other immunizations, call:
The Olin Health Center Allergy/Immunization Clinic at 353-9763
or The Olin Health Center Phone Information Nurse at 353-5557.