THURSDAY. AUGUST 19,2004
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
7A
erlay and proj-
loop,
that we with es said contact work to busi-
big city
at inter-
Goules.
is still
it and because it open replains choles,"
Courtney Kuhlen/KANSAN
eps exam.
at,
M
r at
here
save
other
s, do it
nothing's
e
kisses
a
ake
BY MIRANDA LENNING
mlenning@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
Group housing students urged to get vaccine
Jarrod Morgenstern, Overland Park, freshman, receives his meningitis vaccination from Elizabeth Sawalich, a registered nurse at Watkins Memorial Health Center. Morgenstern went to get the shot yesterday morning and said it was his mother's idea. "I was slightly nervous going in, but it's really no big deal," he said.
ank
Member FDIC
The University of Kansas changed its meningitis policy because of increasing concerns about the spread of meningitis, said Myra Strother, chief of staff at Watkins Memorial Health Center. Strother sent out an e-mail Tuesday outlining the University's new policy.
The policy states that the University strongly recommends that all students living in group housing situations get vaccinated, said Strother. She said it also encouraged all other students to become knowledgeable about the dangers of meningitis. Previously, the University followed the guidelines outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College Health Association, which recommended that everyone knows about the vaccination.
Strother said the risks for students living in group housing increased six-fold, because the disease is spread through close contact with an infected person's nose or throat discharges.
Barbara Schnitker, director of nurses at the Douglas County Health Department, said people need to be aware of the disease and what they can do to protect themselves.
"It is important that students know that sharing lip balm, straws or anything that comes in contact with the mouth puts them at risk." Schnitzer said.
Schnitker said the disease
starts out as flu-like symptoms, but the person can deteriorate quickly.
"It is a serious, serious disease and can result in death," said Schnitker.
Strother said the University is working to make the vaccination mandatory.
Students coming to the University have been told to get the vaccine in students' health history forms, letters of acceptance and housing agreements. Strother spoke to all residence and scholarship hall advisers this week, and will be
speaking to all of the Panhellenic association's risk managers next week. Aventis Pasteur, a worldwide company that specializes in creating vaccines, provided the residence advisors with copies of a brochure explaining the risks of the disease and recommending the vaccination.
Strother said she also went to every new student orientation and spoke to new students and their parents, recommending the vaccine and offering it on the spot.
The vaccine costs $73 and is
available at Watkins by appointment. Strother said that some insurance companies would cover the cost, but the reality was that many will not. The vaccine is 85 to 100 percent affective in preventing two-thirds of the most common meningitis types, said Strother.
Watkins is the primary local health center that offers the meningitis vaccine. Lawrence Memorial Hospital, 325 Maine St., does not offer the vaccine, except to people traveling to areas where meningitis is an endemic dis-
meningitis is an endemic disease like the sub-Saharan belt of Africa.
HOW TO GET A MENINGITIS VACCINE
Watkins Health Center:
www.ku.edu/~shs
Cost: $73
To make an appointment call 864-9500
Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
M-F: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Saturday; 12:30 to 4:30
p.m.
Schnitker said that the health department did not offer the vaccination for routine use because it recognizes that Watkins is doing a good job of providing students with the necessary knowledge.
"We are talking about college students," said Schnitker. "We do not feel the need to duplicate what Watkins is already doing well."
She also said that private doctors can provide the vaccination, but they have to order the vaccination from their pharmaceutical company.
She said the best place for students to obtain the vaccination is at Watkins. Strother said their goal was to make students aware of the dangers of meningitis and provide an easy way for them to obtain the vaccination.
"We are going the extra step with this meningitis policy and we want to make sure that all students are highly aware of its dangers," said Strother.
Edited by Marissa Stephenson
everyday
berkstore.com Take 20% off Your 1st Purchase!!!
We've got the HOTTEST clothes (Juicy, 7's),the COOLEST shoes (Puma's, Uggs) & the EASIEST shopping experience!!
Use Coupon Code: 43000
Orchards Golf Course
Do You Like Sports?
We Offer a Variety of Leagues and Competition Levels in Every Sport
Fall and Adult Leagues Now Forming in:
3000 W. 15th St. 785-843-7456
Twilight Rate After 4:00pm everyday $7.00 Special Rate 9 holes and a pack of beer $15.00
Volleyball Basketball
unclaimed freight & damaged merchandise 936 Mass.
BEDS • DESKS
CHEST OF DRAWERS
BOOK CASES
AUDITIONS FOR
TWO ORIGINAL ONE-ACT PLAYS 3
Saturday August 21 (1-3 p.m.) Callbacks Sunday August 22 (1 p.m.)
BY KU STUDENTS
Many parts available for WM, WF, and Actors of Color. Please bring 2 minutes of prepared material (one or two monologues) s
Produced by Paul Stephen Lim $ ^ {\prime} $ Directed by Joy Richmond Participating Entries in Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Call 864-3642 for further information
DON'S AUTO CENTER "For all your repair needs"
*Import and Domestic Repair & Maintenance
*Machine Shop Service
*Computer Diagnostics
Lawrence Arts Center
940 New Hampshire
841-4833
90 E. 11th Street
Sign Up and Join a League Now!
call 832-7920 for details or visit the community building 115 W. 11th st.
Deadline for Registration is Sept. 1st
Registration Forms/enrollment Available on the Web at www.lprd.org
LAWRENCE PARKS & RECREATION
American Red Cross
JOIN THE
KU RED CROSS CLUB
Meetings to begin early September Call Hannah for more information at 785-393-9109
Stone Creek
3801 W. 6th, Lawrence HS 68049 [785] 830 . 8500