Unit 5, District 87 allowing more time to receive meningitis vaccine

Posted on August 14, 2015
District 87 and Unit 5 offices
Students entering 6th and 12th grade are required to get the meningitis vaccine. (WJBC file photo)

By Adam Studzinski

BLOOMINGTON – Due to a shortage of the meningitis vaccine in the area, Unit 5 and District 87 are extending the time students have to get the required vaccination.

Unit 5 Superintendent Mark Daniel said students will have until Oct. 15 to receive the vaccine, rather than the first day of school.

“This is the first year for seniors to have this requirement, that’s why I think it’s somewhat of a rush on the particular vaccine,” he said.

Students entering 6th grade are also required to get the vaccine.

“State law says Oct. 15, so we’re going to follow state law,” said Daniel. “Surely we’ll have the vaccine available for our students by then.”

Daniel said meningitis is typically not a common disease in schools.

“That’s why you do have a vaccine, to keep that being a minimal occurrence of that particular virus,” Daniel said.

Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].

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