A meningitis vaccination program is underway at the Potchefstroom campus of North West University with the goal of immunizing about 1000 students this year following reports of three cases of infection last.
According to the institution each shot will cost R750 and students are advised to get shots to prevent meningitis, especially the most susceptible ones, those between the ages of 18 and 32.
Meningitis, according to Campus Clinic Manager Dr. Emile Kotze, is fatal and there were meningitis cases previously at the campus.
“Be aware of this because this is a serious threat to us. We had an outbreak in 2004 and we had 14 confirmed positive individuals and six of them died. I don’t want to make people fearful, but the institution would be forced to close the campus if new cases emerged, said Kotze.
“Two to three hours after exhibiting symptoms, people die. Meningitis is an infection of the brain. There is a cover on the brain and there is a lot of blood in it and that is where the infection operates and that is when you get the symptoms. Meningitis is a deadly disease if it’s a bacterial infection,” he said.
The students are divided on whether to vaccinate or not with some saying R700 is too much for their pockets.
A third-year law student said: “I am willing to take it; I’m afraid of injections, but I will take it. Imagine if we have a lot of cases that cannot be controlled, lives won’t only be lost but this is necessary because prevention is better than cure,” he said.
However, a second-year student studying human sciences said she wished the injection was free. “I don’t have medical aid, but I would really like to get vaccinated; I’ll need to put money aside to achieve that”.
