Legislation Requires College Students Receive Meningitis B Shot

With meningitis B immunization officially mandatory for all New Jersey residential college students, the doctors at Care Station Medical Group urge college students to make sure that they are vaccinated and that everyone stay up-to-date on the vaccination.

Meningococcal Sero Group B (Meningitis) has been an underestimated disease due to its perceived rarity. But, with multiple cases recently reported across New Jersey and Pennsylvania college campuses, including at both Rutgers and Penn State, it is time to make certain that everyone takes precaution and is properly vaccinated. New Jersey is one of 38 states requiring college students to be protected with the meningococcal conjugate vaccine. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), adolescents and young adults, especially those ages 16 to 23, have the highest recorded rates of meningococcal disease.

“Meningitis B is very serious not only because of how highly-contagious it is, but also how quickly it can progress if not detected and treated early on,” said Dr. Richard Bezozo, CEO of Care Station Medical Group. “Receiving the vaccination is the only way to protect against the disease and prevent spreading it among others.”

Meningitis B symptoms can occur at any time and can last from as little as several hours to as much as a few days. Some common symptoms are fever, severe headache, confusion, vomiting and stiff neck. Long-term effects if can be life-threatening and potentially lead to permanent brain damage if not treated early on.

“By continually staying up-to-date on the latest advancements in vaccines, we are able to uphold our promise of providing quality, convenient and up-to-date medical care to our patients,” said Dr. Bezozo. “I encourage everyone, especially college students, to get this immunization as soon as possible, if they have not already done so.”

Vaccinations are available now at all of Care Station Medical Group’s locations. For a full list of available vaccinations, visit https://carestationmedical.com/immunizations/.

No appointment is necessary at Care Station in the Linden, Secaucus, Springfield and West Orange locations, but appointments may be scheduled ahead of time. For appointments at any Care Station location, please call 908-925-2273.

About Care Station Medical Group:

Quality primary, urgent and occupational care, along with extended hours, is available at four Care Station Medical Group locations, in Linden, West Orange, Springfield and Secaucus. No appointment is necessary for your urgent medical care needs at Care Station. Affiliated practices in Garwood and Succasunna provide primary care by appointment only. Care Station Medical Group accepts most insurance plans and has provided exceptional care to its patients since 1990.

For more information on vaccinations, to make an appointment, or other medical information, visit CareStationMedical.com.