The Blue Bonnet Opinion posted an editorial over the new law that will require current college students under the age of 30 to receive a meningitis shot before attending school (The Blue Bonnet Opinion, TradingFreedom for Security?, November 29, 2011). This law will target college students attending private 4-year universities, public 4-year universities, as well as community college students (National Conference of State Legislatures, MeningitisLegislation and State Laws, April 2011). While Reyes believes that getting the shot is up to each person, I say give everyone the shot.
Quite honestly, I don't think that adding another vaccination to the list of vaccinations we already have to receive from elementary to high school will create a large burden on individuals. I always think it's better to be safe than sorry. While I agree with the comment that Reyes made that the disease is rare, why risk your chances?
College is a petri dish of germs and diseases. Since most students live on campus, much of the personal space they once had back at home is pretty much gone. Even if someone isn't a dirty person, who is to say that your roommate isn't going to have the same clean habits as yourself? Living with thousands of students can create lots of problems if the proper action is not taken. Especially at such a young age where couples kiss, and students share drinks, meningitis and other contagious diseases can pose a problem in the long run if let out of hand.
While I do agree that everyone has different beliefs about the shot, I see it as a flu shot. You take a vaccine in the hopes of not getting sick later on in the year while everyone else does. It's more of a preventative measure than a statement of dominance.
Of course, there's always the problem of being able to afford this vaccine. With the research I've done over this new law (City Town Info, Meningitis Vaccination Law In Texas Creates Problems For Some Students, November 28, 2011), the state is willing to allow those individuals without insurance to get them at low cost, or even free, at health departments and clinics. However, not much information has yet been released regarding how to do so. I'm sure that once the time gets closer, news stations everywhere will begin to release that information.
