MenB Risk and Vaccination Update

To: Oregon State Corvallis faculty and staff

From: Edward Feser, Provost and Executive Vice President

11 January 2018

Oregon State Corvallis faculty and staff,

I have been asked whether faculty and staff should also be vaccinated for meningococcal B disease.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, those at highest risk for meningococcal B disease include students age 25 and younger who live in on-campus housing or are members of – or visitors to – fraternal living groups associated with the university. Public health officials do not consider faculty and staff members to be in an elevated risk group because it is unlikely they would be in a setting where they would be exposed to the transmission of the disease.

However, faculty and staff who are concerned about exposure to meningitis, or who wish to be vaccinated for meningococcal B disease, are encouraged to contact their primary care physician.

As well, I am writing to thank you for your efforts to help communicate to our students the immediate need to be vaccinated. I encourage you to continue these efforts. On Tuesday and Wednesday, we have vaccinated nearly 3,800 students, but many more students remain in need of being vaccinated.

Attached you will find slides with vaccination clinic, symptom and disease transmission information that you may choose to use in your classes.

To help students meet this urgent health requirement, please share that mass vaccination clinics continue on campus this week in partnership with Fred Meyer Pharmacy.

  • Clinic information:
    • Through Saturday, Jan. 13
    • 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, no appointment necessary
    • Check-in: SEC Plaza outside the Memorial Union

In addition, Samaritan Health Services will offer the following vaccination clinics:

  • Samaritan Urgent Care
    5234 S.W. Philomath Boulevard, Corvallis
    • Friday, Jan. 12, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
    • Saturday, Jan. 13, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    • Sunday, Jan. 14, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Samaritan Athletic Medicine
    845 S.W. 30th St., west end of the Reser Stadium parking lot on the OSU campus
    • Monday, Jan. 15, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    • Tuesday, Jan. 16, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    • Wednesday, Jan. 17, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

As well, I have attached two posters (poster 1 and poster 2) produced by Student Health Services that you might consider posting in your classroom or offices.

For additional information on the university’s outbreak response, including exemptions for vaccinations and insurance coverage information, please visit the Student Health Services website: GetTheVax.oregonstate.edu

Thank you again for your help in communicating this important information. Your continued partnership on this important matter is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Edward Feser
Provost and Executive Vice President