|
medpundit |
||
 |
 |
|
Thursday, February 13, 2003Last year, Pennsylvania joined 13 other states that have passed laws concerning the immunization of college students against the disease, a deadly disorder that strikes mostly infants and college students. Advertisement This year, similar bills are expected to be introduced in at least seven more states. But some legislators and college administrators are reluctant to require a vaccine that does not completely protect against a disease that is rare to begin with. It is a rare occurrence, although when it happens, it can be quick, deadly, and devastating. Still, requiring the vaccine by law raises some sticky issues. It isn’t a very efficacious vaccine. It's only 80-90% effective in preventing the types of meningitis it's designed to combat, and it doesn't protect at all against one serotype that accounts for 46% of cases. Once it becomes required by law, insurance companies may be compelled to pay for it. That means that cost shifts from the individual to all of us, and that, in turn, means that millions of dollars are diverted from some other aspect of healthcare. posted by Sydney on 2/13/2003 07:00:00 AM 0 comments 0 Comments: |
|
