The following is provided for informational purposes only. Allied Universal is not a medical expert. Consult your healthcare provider before pursuing any vaccines or taking any medication.
It’s that time of year again. Leaves are turning, football has begun, the weather is cooling off, and it’s time to fill backpacks with school necessities—pens and pencils, notebooks and laptops. But when you check that all important “to-do list” this year for your student, make sure to include the most important item on the list—inoculations. 
School presents a new world of opportunity–as well as risk. And never are those perils more acute than when your young adult heads to college. Communal living spaces, less-than-sanitary conditions, shared food and drinks, and irregular sleeping habits can leave students vulnerable to disease. For this reason, most institutions of higher learning in the United States require proof of vaccinations prior to enrollment. That is because prevention is key. William Schaffner M.D., and president of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID), recommends parents check students’ medical records to ensure they are current, paying particular attention to meningitis, hepatitis B and HPV.
Meningitis
Inflammation of the membranes (meninges) surrounding the brain and spinal cord, meningitis is a bacterial infection that is so serious, it can be fatal within days without prompt antibiotic treatment, according to the Mayo Clinic. Also, delayed treatment increases the risk of permanent brain damage and death. What’s more, it is most oftencommunicated in close quarters, such as dorms or college apartments. This is likely because the bacterium is spread via the respiratory system, moving quickly through large groups of people.The vaccination for meningitis is an entry requirement for almost every college. But even if your student’s school does not require it, be sure to inquire about the inoculation. It could save your child’s life. 
Hepatitis B
A blood-borne infection transmitted through sexual activity, hepatitis B can lead to long-term liver-related consequences, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The hepatitis B vaccine is a three-dose series and is consideredsafe.Heavy alcohol use, toxins, some medications, and certain medical conditions can all cause hepatitis. However, it is often caused by a virus.
HPV
A disease transmitted through sexual activity is HPV (human papillomavirus). It can cause certain cancers and disease in males and femalesand is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI). In fact, about 79 million Americans are currently infected. And about 14 million people become newly infected each year. HPV is so common that almost every person who is sexually active will get HPV at some point if they don’t get the HPV vaccine. Unfortunately, because HPV often has no signs or symptoms, most people who contract it aren’t even aware they carry the disease. The CDC recommends parents vaccinate their children for HPV because 31,000 HPV-induced cancers occur each year in the U.S.
About the Allied Universal Fire Life Safety Services System
Before you pack the trunk with your college student’s clothing, pillows and family photos, make sure you’ve tended to their most important higher education supply – good health! Our interactive, e-learning program helps all types of buildings, including those in the commercial, residential, and higher education space, with compliance to fire life safety codes and instantly issues a certificate to building occupants who complete the course! It’s a convenient and affordable solution to the training needs of your facility. Click here for more information or to subscribe.
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