Why You Shouldn't Waive The Meningococcal Vaccine

Virginia (VA) Medical Malpractice Lawyers
Offices in VA Beach, Hampton & Elizabeth City, NC 
 

20 states now require all new college students to be vaccinated against Meningococcal meningitis prior to enrollment. However, other states still allow students to bypass the vaccination by signing a waiver. Many students pursue this option, because Meningococcal meningitis only strikes 3,000 people in the United States. But when it does strike, the resulting infection is extremely deadly, killing 10 to 12 percent of all those that in infects, sometimes in a matter of hours. Bacterial meningitis is treatable with a number of antibiotics, but effective treatment requires early detection. Even those that survive are left with a reminder of this decision, as 20% will suffer from brain damage, kidney disease, loss of hearing and/or sight, or other complications.

Meningitis is a bacterial infection that is spread through air droplets or direct contact with the infected. Meningitis is characterized by an inflammation of membranes around the brain and spinal cord and can develop suddenly or over time. Symptoms include fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, and vomiting. Because of the close quarters that college students, especially those in dorms, keep, they are at increased risk for infection.

The FDA has approved a vaccination called Menactra, which is 83% effective against the infection. Still, in 2006, only 12% of all teenagers were vaccinated. The Center for Disease Control recommends that all children receive the vaccination between the ages of 11 and 18.

Most college students choose not to waive the vaccination. Since Virginia passed a law mandating that all students at four year universities either obtain the vaccination or sign the waiver, the percentage of those vaccinated has jumped from 55% to 95%, according to Dr. Jim Turner at the University of Virginia. Additionally, the vaccination is covered by most insurance plans. Even when the plan will not pay for it, the cost is generally $120.

Menactra does have certain side effects, such as allergic reaction or redness of the injection site. In addition, it has been linked to a few cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome, which targets the peripheral nervous system and causes a gradual, temporary paralysis. However, this occurs in approximately 1.25 cases out of 1,000,000.

Click here for a map that shows which states require vaccinations and the corresponding rate of infection. Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina require the vaccination, but South Carolina, D.C., and West Virginia do not.

About the Editors: Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton personal injury law firm is based in Virginia (VA), near the NE North Carolina (NC) border and handles car,truck,railroad, and medical negligence cases and more. Our lawyers proudly edit the Virginia Beach Injuryboard, Norfolk Injuryboard, and Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard as a pro bono public information service. Lawyers licensed in: VA, NC, SC, WV, DC, KY.

How can you identify a top Virginia injury lawyer for your case? Look no further.

Our VA personal injury lawyers have been selected for many accolades.

Two of the attorneys with our Virginia Beach accident injury law firm, James Lewis and Rick Shapiro, have been named the Best Lawyers in America since 2008. Two of our VA injury lawyers -- Lewis and Shapiro - have been named to Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury since 2010. In addition, Lewis and Shapiro have been selected for inclusion in the National Million Dollar Advocates Forum since 2009. 

Our VA accident injury law firm was the first in the commonwealth nvited to join Primerus, a select group of highly ethical and respected law firms. Rick Shapiro was named as one of the Top 100 Injury Lawyers in Virginia by the National Trial Lawyers Association.

In October, 2000 our law firm and co-counsel obtained what was then the largest verdict in Virginia's history for an injured person. Our brain damaged client received an initial award of $46 million that rose to $60 million with interest when the defendant abandoned an appeal and agreed to settle. 

Geographical Areas

Our personal injury lawyers handle personal injury cases throughout the eastern USA, and work closely with lawyers in other states on signficant injury cases.

In Virginia, this includes Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Hampton, Newport News, Suffolk, Richmond, Petersburg, Roanoke, Salem, Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Fredericksburg, Charlottesville, Ashland, Big Stone Gap, and every community on the Eastern Shore, including Accomack, Onancock, Chincoteauge, Wachapreague, and Cape Charles, Bloxom, Eastville, Exmore, Greenbackville, Machipongo, Mappsville, Melfa, Nassawadox, Onley, Tangier, Temperanceville, Wachapreague and Wallops Island.

In West Virginia, we can handle personal injury claims in Bluefield, Beckley, Bridgeport, Charles Town, Charleston, Fairmont, Huntington, Lewisburg, Madison, Martinsburg, Morgantown, Moundsville, Parkersburg, Ripley, Sutton, Weirton, Wheeling and any other town or county.

Injury Lawyers licensed in VA, WV, North Carolina (NC), South Carolina (SC), Kentucky (KY), Florida (FL) and Washington, DC.

 

About the Editors: Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton is a Virginia injury law firm whose attorneys focus on personal injury and accident law and have extensive experience handling medical malpractice and doctor mistake cases. Please take a few moments to review our medical malpractice case results. We have offices in Virginia Beach and Hampton, VA, but we're ready to come to you anywhere in Virginia, including Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Newport News and Suffolk, VA, if you've been seriously hurt by the carelessness of a doctor, surgeon, nurse or pharmacist.

Rick Shapiro and James Lewis have been recognized as among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008. Also, Rick and Jim have been named Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury Law since 2010. Fewer than 5 percent of lawyers are chosen for this professional honor.

Members of our VA personal injury law firm have also been selected by the National Million Dollar Advocates Forum since 2009. In addition, we were the first injury law firm in Virginia to join Primerus, a select group of highly ethical and respected law firms. Our VA medical malpractice firm has the highest rating of AV from Martindale-Hubbell, a national lawyer ranking organization, which means we have a reputation for preeminent legal skill.

We offer free special reports on the Top 10 Tips from a Medical Malpractice Insider and the top five surgical errors you must know about. 

While not every injury case meets our criteria, we offer free initial confidential injury case consultation, so call us toll free at (800) 752-0042. If you cannot get through due to high call volume, please leave a voicemail so we can return your call.