By Kaitlin Fochesato, The Columbus Dispatch
COLUMBUS – Before the start of the school year, parents will have to make sure their children receive the meningococcal vaccine.
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Lawmakers added the vaccine to the list of “required” immunizations last year for students entering 7th grade and again in the 12th grade, but it takes effect in the coming weeks.
Ohio allows parents who object to vaccines to opt out. About 74 percent of young people in Ohio are vaccinated, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nationally, vaccine coverage is close to 79 percent.
Dr. Rebecca Brady with the Ohio chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics said most instances of meningitis, the most common of the meningococcal diseases, can start out with flu-like symptoms, including fever, headache or stiff neck. But within a day, you could be in an intensive-care unit.
This bacterial infection spreads rapidly through the blood stream and causes an inflammation of the meninges, the protective coating covering the brain and spinal cord.
Seventh graders are at a vulnerable age, Brady said, because many begin kissing and engaging in sexual activity.
According to the Ohio chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, 10 to 15 percent of people infected with meningococcal disease will die. Of those who survive it, 11 to 19 percent will face long-term disabilities, which can include the loss of a limb, deafness, nerve problems or brain damage.