Alachua County School Based Meningitis B Vaccine Program
- Who? Alachua County high schoolers over the age of 16
- What? Meningitis B and other vaccinations at no cost to families
- When? Permission slips will be available soon and are due January 21, 2020
- When and where? Alachua County High Schools
- Initial vaccinations: January 21 – January 30
- Booster vaccinations: February 21 – March 2.
The Foundation is working in conjunction with University of Florida and community physicians, the Alachua County Health Department, and the Alachua County school system to increase access to meningococcal B vaccines through high school and university based vaccine programs. Goals include educating and empowering parents and adolescents along with young adults to make informed vaccination choices.
- Meningococcal disease is serious and can be fatal. It causes meningitis and/or blood infection in hundreds of healthy people each year in the U.S. Around 1 in 10 people with meningococcal disease will not survive despite timely medical treatment. Of those who do survive, 1 in 5 will have serious consequences including brain damage, hearing loss, and amputation. Learn More
- The best way to prevent meningococcal disease is vaccination. To be fully protected, two vaccines are needed – one vaccine for meningococcal disease type B (Men B) and one vaccine for meningococcal disease types A, C, W, and Y. Learn More
- You or your child may have received the vaccine that cover types A,C,W, and Y at age 11 with a booster at age 16. Since 2014, we can finally protect against Meningitis B, which is responsible for nearly half of all meningococcal infections. Learn More
- If you or your child is enrolled in an Alachua county high school and is age 16 or older, sign up for the school based vaccine program with this permission slip and follow the return instructions.