Over the past couple of months, students of Princeton University have gotten a scare of a particular strand of Meningitis that has sprung out all over campus. In this time, eight students have gotten sick and one student, native to California, had to get both of his feet amputated.

This particular strand is Meningitis B,  which is the inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known collectively as the meninges. The inflammation may be caused by infection with viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms, and less commonly by certain drugs. Meningitis can be life-threatening because of the inflammation’s proximity to the brain and spinal cord; therefore, the condition is classified as a medical emergency.

Due to the health concerns of Meningitis, there are mandatory vaccinations involved with living in close- quarters, such as dorm-rooms. Here are a few of the other vaccines required for many students who plan on living on a college campus.

•  Meningococcal conjugate vaccine protects against bacterial meningitis and may be required for some college freshmen or other students living in dorm.
• TDAP vaccine protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis, or whooping cough.
• HPV vaccine protects against the human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes most cases of cervical and anal cancers, as well as genital warts.
• Seasonal flu vaccine

As of Tuesday, some 3,355 Princeton students had received a vaccine imported from Europe to protect against the B strain of meningitis that has sickened eight in an unusual outbreak since March. All of these students had to get these vaccinations in order to even set foot in a dorm- room, but now they will be subjected to receive even more lesser forms of deadly diseases.

This calls into the question whether or not these vaccinations are truly worth receiving, since, in this instance, they are not so effective. Every year, incoming college freshmen must take a string of vaccinations. Here are a few accounts and testaments of these students.

“I like vaccinations to prevent the odds of catching a serious disease,” said East  Stroudsberg University commit Mike Angeline.

Seniors Chris Huster and Courtney Conway both agree that vaccines are ok because it “can’t hurt to have.”

“I feel that is is a necessity for incoming freshman to be up to date in all their vaccination records,” said math teacher Mrs. Colleen Senior

The basic consensus among these people is that even though they may be unreliable, they are a necessity to have.

However, senior Jon McCarthy, views the situation differently.

“I feel that putting a deadly disease in your body does more harm than good, and I try my best to stay as unvaccinated as possible,” he said.

Even with some disapproval of receiving vaccinations, all of the interviewees said they would meet their school’s requirement for all recommended vaccines.

As for the students at Princeton who are facing this problem right now, they will just have to try and stay tough and stay as sanitary as possible. Another string of Meningitis B vaccinations will be distributed in February.