A recently-approved meningitis vaccine became available at Princeton University on Monday, as officials sought to contain the meningitis outbreak on the New Jersey campus.
Students can receive meningitis B vaccine Bexsero beginning Monday, Novartis spokeswoman Liz Power said. The drug, which is made by Novartis, was ushered through approval by the Federal Drug Administration in order to help curb a meningitis outbreak on Princeton’s main campus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends all undergraduate students living on and off campus, as well as graduate students living on campus, receive the vaccination.
At least eight students have been diagnosed and treated for the B strain of meningitis this year, which is uncommon in the United States. Left untreated, the strain can cause brain damage, hearing loss, limb loss or even death. The drug was previously only approved in Europe, Australia and more recently Canada.