The director general of the Regional Health Agency recalls that the bacteria could still circulate on campus, and underlines the importance of vaccination.
As the meningitis vaccination campaign draws to a close on the Dijon campus, the Regional Health Agency (ARS) recalls that the responsible bacteria could still be present.
Invited to the France 3 Bourgogne – Franche – Comté plateau, the Director General of ARS, Pierre Pribile, congratulated himself on the success of this exceptional operation. In one month, 13,808 students and staff of the University of Burgundy were vaccinated on campus, and nearly 1,800 were vaccinated by their attending physician.
This device was launched in early January after the report of invasive meningococcal W infection that occurred between October and December 2016 in 3 students, two of whom died. It was divided into 3 phases and involved a total of more than 30,000 people.
“It’s a good operating result. The goal was to vaccinate as many people as possible in the shortest possible time. These 14,000 people are individually protected and participate in the collective protection of the campus, ”explained Pierre Pribile.
Vaccination still possible
However, this vaccination coverage is not sufficient to eliminate the bacteria. Indeed, “we can not give this guarantee, this is the reason why we remind all unvaccinated people that it is still possible to be vaccinated on campus or in the city center,” said the director. general of the ARS, adding that “each more vaccine will be an additional personal protection and a chance more to protect the population of the campus”.
Thus, until March 31, it is possible to be vaccinated free of charge at the university health and prevention center and at the Dijon departmental vaccination center. The vaccine used, in a single dose, protects against four strains of meningococcus (A, C, Y and W).
Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges (envelopes of the brain) most often resulting in severe headaches, stiff neck, high fever, intolerance to light and nausea or vomiting. Unsupported, it can kill in a matter of days. “Meningococcus is a very fragile germ that does not survive in the environment, but is transmitted through saliva and there may be healthy carriers on campus,” said ARS.
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