LANGHORNE, PA – On the morning of Oct. 23, 2024, a select group of Neshaminy High School juniors and seniors were called down to the auditorium over the loudspeaker and sent home for not receiving their second dose of the Meningitis vaccine. 

In the state of Pennsylvania, students entering the 12th grade are required to receive the second dose of the meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV) to prevent the spread of this highly dangerous disease. 

Earlier in the year, on Sept. 4, NHS Principal Stephen Garstka emailed the parents and guardians of NHS Seniors, highlighting that students could be excluded from school with an unexcused absence if they had not received the vaccination by Oct. 7, 2024.  

With many new and out-of-district students attending NHS, many were unaware of the status of their MCV vaccine and the reason why they were told to report to the auditorium.

“I was confused and didn’t understand why I was called down. I thought I got in trouble or something,” an anonymous NHS student stated.

Previously, Garstka had also emailed parents and guardians at the end of the 2023-2024 school year to remind them of the state requirements. 

Meningitis, also known as meningococcal disease, is an infection that targets the membranes enclosing the brain and spinal cord, causing swelling. Those who have contracted meningitis and received treatment have a 10-15% survival rate. This bacteria is spread through respiratory means and close contact with infected persons for prolonged periods. 

According to Meningitis Now, teenagers and younger people are more likely to carry the bacteria that causes meningococcal bacteria in their throats. This can lead to the rapid spread of the disease in an environment with a large population of young people who have close contact. 

To combat the spread of meningitis, 22 states require college students to receive an MCV vaccine. Not only are these students interacting with peers and teachers inside the classroom, but also with roommates, often of similar age, outside the classroom, meaning most states require the MCV vaccine for students living on campus as well. 

Alicia Stillman, whose daughter, a college sophomore, passed away from Meningitis in 2013, stressed how crucial receiving the vaccine is. 

“It is important that all parents know what vaccine their child is given so that they can ensure that their children have received protection against all five serial groups [of Meningitis bacteria],” Stillman explained.