Amanda Moran
|
|
|
Amanda Moran |
Born December 4, 1984
|
I was diagnosed with meningitis the day I was
suppose to move off to college. I now only suffer was migraines and
insomnia. I am now a sophomore at the University of Central Oklahoma
studying political science. I am working close with my university and the
faulty to raise awareness and promoting the new vaccine!
|
|||
|
An Interview With Amanda Meningitis Survivor Promotes New Vaccine UCO Student Says Awareness Is Key To Stopping Spread Of Disease POSTED: 4:07 pm CST February 24, 2005 UPDATED: 5:09 pm CST February 24, 2005 EDMOND, Okla. -- The Centers for Disease Control is recommending a new life-saving vaccine against meningitis, and a University of Central Oklahoma student is one of its staunchest champions, Eyewitness News 5's Kevin Tomich reported.
UCO sophomore Amanda Moran was diagnosed with the rare, often fatal disease that invaded her body. She contracted the disease while working as a lifeguard at a public pool just three months after her high school graduation.
"You let someone know you have meningitis, (but) they never know what you're talking about," Moran said. "It was a struggle just to get up and go to the restroom ... or to get up and move to a chair." Thanks to Moran, students at UCO will be learning much more about the disease. She is helping to distribute pamphlets that outline the dangers of meningitis -- a disease that kept her from setting foot on campus. With medication and a quarantine period, Moran suffered only small side-effects, such as migraines, insomnia and weight loss. She said it was a far better outcome than others who contract the disease. "They die or they lose limbs, have brain damage and become retarded," she said. According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, close quarters and the collegiate lifestyle make the disease particularly common among college students. College freshmen have the highest rate of meningitis at five cases per 100,000 people. They are also six times more likely to be infected than the average person, CDC experts said. Moran said that many people are unaware that 300 Americans die annually from the disease. "As college students, we all need to be aware because this is a time to have fun and not worry about things," she said. "It's preventing four of five strains of the bacterial meningitis," she said. "It's lasting up to eight years or more versus the old vaccine, which only lasted three to five years." Moran said the vaccine could keep other children from catching the disease that could have killed her. "Don't wait ... vaccinate," she said. "You know, it's a very expensive vaccine ... around $100, but you're saving your child's life." The Oklahoma State Health Department expects the vaccine to be available in doctor's offices within the next month. State officials say they support the use of vaccine and will likely offer it as a vaccine to children without insurance. Lawmakers are also trying to raise awareness. The Legislature recently passed a measure that requires colleges and universities to discuss meningitis -- and the need to get vaccinated -- with their students.
|