The disease often progresses rapidly. College students in general are at no greater risk of contracting meningococcal disease than the population of 18-22 year olds as a whole, but recent studies have shown freshmen living in residence halls have a six times higher risk of meningococcal disease than college students overall. Students 25 years of age or older have a low risk of disease. A vaccine called Menomune helps protect against meningococcal disease. Development of immunity requires seven to ten days.
Protection lasts three to five years.
The vaccine is very safe and adverse reactions are mild and infrequent, consisting primarily of redness and pain at the site of injection lasting up to two days. The ACIP also recommends that vaccination be made available to those freshmen who wish to reduce their risk of disease. Other undergraduate students wishing to reduce their risk of meningococcal disease can also choose to be vaccinated. The ACIP did not recommend mandatory immunization for any group of students. Most insurers do not cover this expense.