OU Dean of Students speaks out about bacterial meningitis vaccine ATHENS, OH (WOUB) - There's no doubt about it -- bacterial meningitis can be fatal.

The death of Ohio University student Andrea Robinson makes that abundantly clear.

And Dean of Students Ryan Lombardi is speaking out in case anyone hasn't gotten the message.

"We have shared this information more openly than we have in the past because this illness falls into the category of a public health concern," he says. "We're being more open with this information so students can protect themselves."

There is a vaccine against bacterial meningitis, but OU students are not required to take it.

"We'd have to come up with a system of verifying that students actually received the vaccination," Lombardi says. "We would likely make them provide documentation of the vaccination at that time if it becomes a law."

Another thing about the vaccine -- Lombardi says it doesn't always work.

"What we don't want is students to think that just because they receive the vaccination that they are protected," he says. "All the students last year who received bacterial meningitis were vaccinated. So, it doesn't necessarily assure you that you'll be immune from receiving the disease."

The vaccine is available at the OU health center.

It costs $105.

Also available is an anti-biotic which is recommended if someone is exposed to bacterial meningitis.

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