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Vaccinations critical for campus life
By Kristi Peregoy
kperegoy@mscd.edu

College is an ideal time to explore possibilities, meet new people and live life to the fullest. Yet anybody’s vibrant youth can be stolen away if proper precautions are not taken to ensure good health.

The average college student has a lot of issues to tackle before attending their first class. In the past, Metro students have not had the health concerns of those at more conventional college campuses. But as Auraria grows, health issues do, too.

With more students in a smaller area people are more susceptible to disease. After the current meningitis scare experienced by second year Metro student Mark Mather, Metro officials are taking a closer look at possible mandatory vaccinations.

According to @Metro, “A campus-wide Immunization Task Force is investigating a proposal on what to do” regarding the un-mandated vaccinations.

“Vaccinations for meningitis are extremely recommended for college freshmen because of dorm life and the proximity of people living together,” said Jen Blakely, a triage nurse at Cherry Creek Pediatrics.

The most prevalent diseases roaming campuses are meningitis, hepatitis, influenza and sexually transmitted diseases. These illnesses affect students of all ages and backgrounds.

The prospect of catching a disease or moderate illness, fatal or not, can be scary. Germs spread very easily, especially as flu season approaches, but there are things to do to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

“Watch your diet, exercise and get plenty of rest and you won’t be as much at risk to get sick, but in college those are the first habits to change,” Blakely said. “It’s true for everybody but it’s important to be alert.”

As for STDs, Blakely suggests getting checked annually since college is a common period for people to have high levels of sexual activity.

Common STDs such as gonorrhea and chlamydia can now be checked with a urine test instead of the uncomfortable Pap smear.

“People with gonorrhea and chlamydia can carry it and not know it,” Blakely said. “That’s how they get spread so rampantly.”

Starting in October and lasting through March, influenza vaccines will be readily available in any doctor’s office or local clinic.

If a student goes looking for protection against any of these diseases they can find it with just a short trip to a doctor’s office. As Blakely said, “It’s an important time to be highly aware of your health.”

August is National Immunization Month, and if an Auraria student feels the need to be vaccinated against potentially fatal diseases such as meningitis, rubella or tuberculosis the insurance provided by the campus covers those costs, according to @Metro.