Public Comment Needed: Idaho to Add Second Shot of Meningitis Vaccine for High School

Public Comment Needed: Idaho to Add Second Shot of Meningitis Vaccine for High School

The Health Department wants to add a second required shot for meningitis to the high school schedule. Here’s the key points. Meningitis is a rare disease, the most serious cases are caused by bacteria. The disease been on a downward trend with historic lows in 2016. Around 300 people in the US and an average 3 in Idaho contract bacterial Meningococcal meningitis each year. The meningococcal vaccine is intended to protect against only 4 strains of bacteria and hasn’t proven very effective. CDC reports findings that 93% of the college students contracting the disease were vaccinated!  Even in the light of these facts, IDHW proposes a new requirement for high school students receive another dose of an ineffective vaccine for a rare disease. Time is of the essence – public comments will only be received until FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 17 is the last day for public comment!

E-mail: [email protected]  

TESTIFY IN PERSON!  September 17 – 9:30 a.m.

Courtyard by Marriott
Balboa Meeting Room
1789 S Eagle Road Meridian, ID 83642
CALL IN 877-820-7831  Participant #137508

Meningitis. 

A rare disease that has an annual death rate in the U.S. of approximately 1 in 1,000,000; literally “one in a million.” [1]

Neisseria meningitidis, the meningococcal bacteria, is passed by coughing or contact with saliva and is normally present in the respiratory tracts of healthy people without causing disease [3, 4, 5]. In fact, probably no one escapes infection. Symptomatic disease is quite rare for N. meningitidis. As such, 100% of the population, vaccinated or not, are asymptomatic carriers at some point in their lives. In fact, at any time, 5-35% of the population is silently carrying the bacteria, though the numbers often rise to nearly 100% in close quarters, such as military barracks and college campuses [4].

Is meningitis scary? Yes. But, with only 4 strains of bacterial meningitis and 0 strains of viral meningitis in the vaccine, it’s a guessing game, similar to the flu shot, on which strain you’d even be exposed to. The vaccine, in creating an artificial immune response, actually leaves you more vulnerable to the more virulent strains of meningitis, not covered in the vaccine. 

Idaho infectious disease reports shows the following for Neisseria meningitidis, often referred to as meningococcus. Which causes cause meningitis and other forms of meningococcal disease such as meningococcemia, a life-threatening sepsis. 

2016: 3 cases
2015: 0 cases
2014: 5 cases
2013: 4 cases

According to the CDC’s Enhanced Meningococcal Disease Surveillance Report, 2016 the rare disease has been on a downward trend since the late 1990’s.  372 people in 2016 got the disease nationwide. (Incident rate of .12 of 100,000).

DOCKET NO. 16-0215-1802 (pg 91) The Health Department wants to “require a second dose of meningococcal (MenACWY) vaccination before a student enters the 12th grade in Idaho, starting with school year 2020-2021. If a student received their first dose of meningococcal (MenACWY) vaccine at 16 years of age or older, they will not be required to receive the second dose before entry into the 12th grade.”

The vaccine they are requiring only covers 50% of the strains and is less than 10% effective. Is this about the health of Idaho’s children? 

How can you, as a parent, best protect your child from meningococcal infection?

Answer:  Improve your child’s immune system by providing a healthy diet of whole foods that are rich in nutrients.  Give supplements that are high in antioxidants, balanced B-vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids.  Give extra vitamin D3 during cold and flu season.  Heal the gut if your child has gastrointestinal problems.   Stress the importance of getting enough sleep and fresh air.   Help your child learn to relax.  And, just say NO to vaccines that damage your child’s innate immune system.

Read about this shots function, efficacy and reactions here:

https://schaabling.wordpress.com/2016/01/01/meningococcal-vaccine-meningitis/


[1]. Meningococcal Disease and Vaccination.  Fear-Mongering?  YES!! (2011 – disease incident rates have DECREASED since)

[3] https://www.facebook.com/groups/gentleinformants/permalink/1004672592923652/

[4] http://femsre.oxfordjournals.org/content/31/1/52.long?view=long&pmid=17233635

[5] http://www.whale.to/vaccines/meningitis5.html

New Proposed Rule:

https://adminrules.idaho.gov/bulletin/2018/07.pdf#page=91

https://www.millioninsights.com/industry-reports/meningococcal-vaccines-market

Idaho Infectious Disease Reporting:
http://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/Health/Epidemiology/IdahoDiseaseSummary/tabid/202/Default.aspx

Disease Trends in Idaho:

http://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/Portals/0/Health/Epi/Disease%20Summaries/ID%20DZ%20Trends_2016_FINALv2.pdf

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