Meningitis Vaccination Clinic To Be Held At Oologah Lower Elementary School

By Ashli Sims and NewsOn6.com

OOLOGAH, OK -- The Rogers County Health Department is holding a meningitis vaccination clinic at Oologah Lower Elementary School.

The clinic is for Oologah residents only.

The vaccine is recommended for those who are 11-years-old to 55-years-old. However, since Oologah elementary students are at high risk for exposure, they will offer the vaccine for children as young as 2-years-old.

The health department says the vaccine will not be available to those older than 55 because it hasn't been tested for patients in that age group.

The clinic is scheduled in response to last week's meningitis outbreak involving seven students from the Oologah-Talala School District.  Two of those students died in the outbreak.

3/15/2010  Related Story: Oologah High School Senior Is Latest Confirmed Meningitis Case

The vaccine is free and health officials say even if you have recently received antibiotics for meningitis, you can still get the vaccine.

The clinic will be held Friday from noon to 7:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Some say the shots are crucial to giving parents peace of mind.

"Probably all the children will need to be vaccinated in the school system," said Anne Wiggins, Oologah Historical Museum.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the vaccine is safe, but just like other immunizations it does carry some risk of allergic reactions.

"I think they're more worried about the disease. I think they're wanting the immunization to prevent it," said Mary Beth Murray, Rogers County Health Department.

Public health officials stress that the general public is not at risk. Only persons who have had close, personal contact to a person with a meningococcal infection have a slightly increased risk of developing the disease.

Symptoms of meningococcal disease may appear two to ten days after infection. People ill with meningococcal septicemia may have fever, nausea, vomiting and a rash. People that are ill with meningitis will have fever, intense headache, nausea, vomiting and a stiff neck. Officials say it is important to seek care from a physician as soon as possible if these symptoms appear.

For more information on meningococcal disease, visit the Oklahoma State Department of Health Web site and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.