Meningitis took my fingers, part of my foot and left me scarred. Your child can be sparred
Samantha Bennett is a Columbus-based artist and national meningitis advocate.
I know firsthand what meningococcal meningitis can do to a body.
I contracted it at 9 months old. I survived the illness and now live with severe scarring on my skin, along with amputation of some fingers and half of my right foot. I spent much of my youth in hospital and going through multiple reconstructive surgeries.
Advancements in medical science have led to an improved and efficient way for young people to be protected from a deadly and disabling disease.
Meningitis is a disease that is preventable through vaccination.
Meningitis is a bacterial infection of the brain and spinal cord. The disease kills up to 15 percent of those who contract it, and 20 percent who survive will suffer permanent disabilities. The disease most often occurs in infants and young adults.
What is the new meningitis vaccine and what does it do?
Last month the Food and Drug Administration approved a new pentavalent vaccine, designed to cover all five strains of meningitis – ACWY and B.
The new vaccine is an important advancement, because currently those who choose this protection must receive one vaccine for ACWY strains and a separate vaccine for the B strain.
More: Meningitis took Columbus man's hands and feet, but not his will
More: Meningitis B vaccine could save your child's life
According to the CDC, in 2021 vaccination coverage of the MenACWY was 89 percent, while coverage for MenB was 31 percent. About 50 percent of meningitis cases for people aged 17-23 in the USA are from the B strain so the all-in-one pentavalent vaccine is a welcome advancement that can boost immunization rates.
After FDA approval, what follows is a process to develop guidelines for medical providers who will administer the vaccine to patients. The Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP), a sub-committee of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is now putting forth these guidelines.
The ACIP recommendations should be uncomplicated and provide physicians and patients with straightforward and clear facts that will best inform their choice to be vaccinated against meningitis and ensure wide availability of the new vaccine.
Samantha Bennett: Portrait of hope
I contracted meningitis at such a young age that living with my beat-up body is all I have ever known.
I am a successful artist who loves to capture images of people and animals in portraits as well as beautiful places. I am positive about life and want to share my experience with others.
I speak to teen audiences about recognizing the symptoms of meningitis, and just as important, about how to prevent meningitis through vaccination.
The new vaccine for all five strains is an important advancement that will help protect young adults. It is my hope that this new form of immunization will be supported by policies that work for patients and assist medical providers with guidelines that are clear and efficient.
Achieving a healthy and safe community requires diligent attention not just to healthcare services, but also to the underlying rules and regulations that guide treatment.
Samantha Bennett is a Columbus-based artist and national meningitis advocate.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Is the new meningitis vaccination effective?
