Many doctors in the United States are not discussing the Meningitis B vaccine with their college-aged patients. According to a study published in Pediatrics on August 2018, among 900 doctors surveyed, 49% of pediatricians and 69% of family physicians did not discuss the MenB vaccine during routine visits for 16-18 year olds. This is a serious problem because the CDC currently recommends that decisions to vaccinate 16-23 year olds against MenB should be made at the individual level with health care providers.

As a result, more than 80% of parents have not heard of the MenB vaccine and less than 10% of 16-18 year olds have received at least one dose of the MenB vaccine.

However, Meningitis B is responsible for 100% of meningococcal disease outbreaks on college campuses and college students are 5 times more likely to become infected with Meningitis B than non-college students. 

Students and their parents have the right to know so they can make an informed decision that could save their lives. 

Our ask: The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association must create guidelines requiring physicians in the United States to discuss Meningitis B and the vaccine available to prevent it with their college-aged patients, and to document the discussion in each patient's records.