Princeton vaccinates 4,361 with Bexsero with one clinic day left

Princeton University said Wednesday that more than 4,300 people received the first dose of the two-dose series of the meningococcal serogroup B vaccine after three days of clinic operations.

Neisseria meningitidis
Image/CDC

As of Wednesday night, the total number vaccinated with Novartis’ Bexsero, the unlicensed for use in the US vaccine, was 4,361 with today being the last clinic day.

The vaccine clinic, held in the Frist Campus Center multipurpose room, will close at 8 pm tonight.

The meningococcal meningitis B outbreak that sickened eight since March prompted federal health authorities to allow the unlicensed vaccine use at the New Jersey campus.

Bexsero is licensed for use in Europe and Australia, but not the United States. The CDC and the Food and Drug Administration have allowed the use of this vaccine for this particular situation at Princeton. The vaccines will be administered by Maxim Health Systems, which also runs the annual flu vaccine clinic on campus.

The second shot in the series will be offered in February, according to Princeton officials.

Meningococcal meningitis is caused by a bacteria called Neisseria meningitidis that can infect the lining of the brain and spinal cord. There are a few different types or strains of Neisseria meningitidis. In the US, types B, C and Y cause the majority of disease.

In the US, approximately 800 to 1,500 people are infected with meningococcal meningitis and 120 die from the disease per year. About one of every five survivors lives with permanent disabilities, such as seizures, amputations, kidney disease, deafness, brain damage and psychological problems.

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