Stylized college campus with medical symbols, representing meningococcal outbreak and vaccination efforts.

Meningococcal B Outbreak on Campus: Are College Students Protected?

Reese Marlowe in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Explore the effectiveness of mass vaccination clinics and what universities can do to better protect students."

Between January and May 2015, a somber reality unfolded at a large public university: seven individuals contracted invasive serogroup B meningococcal disease, with one case proving fatal. This outbreak, as detailed in a research article in the Journal of Adolescent Health, underscored a critical public health challenge, particularly among college students.

The university responded with mass vaccination clinics, deploying a newly licensed serogroup B vaccine in March, May, and October 2015. Yet, the study evaluating these clinics reveals a mixed bag of results, shedding light on the complexities of outbreak response and vaccination strategies in a university setting.

This article examines the findings of the original study, focusing on the vaccination rates, the demographics of those vaccinated, the preferred methods of communication, and the motivations driving students to get vaccinated. It further discusses the implications of these findings for future outbreaks, emphasizing the need for targeted strategies to protect those most vulnerable.

Low Vaccination Rates: A Cause for Concern?

Stylized college campus with medical symbols, representing meningococcal outbreak and vaccination efforts.

The study highlighted a concerningly low vaccination rate among undergraduates. Only 15% received one dose of the vaccine, and an additional 11% completed two doses of the three-dose MenB-FHbp series at the mass vaccination clinics. This means that a significant portion of the student body remained vulnerable despite the university's efforts.

However, the vaccination campaign did reach specific at-risk populations. University freshmen were 2.3 times more likely to attend the clinics, and members of Greek organizations were 1.3 times more likely. This indicates that while overall vaccination rates were low, the outreach efforts were somewhat successful in targeting those at higher risk.

Key findings from the study reveal:

Preferred communication method: E-mail was the preferred method for receiving information about the vaccination clinics, cited by 90% of attendees.
Motivations for attending: Concerns about contracting meningococcal disease (66%) and parental requests (56%) were the primary drivers for vaccination.
Vaccine series completion: Only 4% of the undergraduate student body completed the serogroup B meningococcal vaccine series at a mass vaccination clinic.

These findings suggest that future vaccination efforts should concentrate on precise, at-risk populations to maximize vaccination of those most susceptible to this deadly disease. But what were the barriers to higher vaccination rates, and how can universities overcome them?

Looking Ahead: Enhancing Future Vaccination Strategies

The serogroup B meningococcal outbreak at the Oregon university provides valuable lessons for future public health responses on college campuses. While mass vaccination clinics can play a role, a more targeted approach focusing on high-risk groups is crucial. By refining communication strategies, addressing concerns, and ensuring accessibility, universities can strive for higher vaccination rates and better protect their students from this potentially devastating disease.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2018.03.018, Alternate LINK

Title: Evaluation Of Mass Vaccination Clinics In Response To A Serogroup B Meningococcal Disease Outbreak At A Large, Public University—Oregon, 2015

Subject: Psychiatry and Mental health

Journal: Journal of Adolescent Health

Publisher: Elsevier BV

Authors: Emily A. Fisher, Tasha Poissant, Patrick Luedtke, Richard Leman, Collette Young, Paul Cieslak

Published: 2018-08-01

Everything You Need To Know

What exactly is serogroup B meningococcal disease, and why is it a concern on college campuses?

Serogroup B meningococcal disease is a severe bacterial infection that can lead to meningitis (inflammation of the brain and spinal cord) and septicemia (blood poisoning). This disease is particularly dangerous for college students because they often live in close quarters, which facilitates the spread of the bacteria. Symptoms can develop rapidly and have devastating consequences, including death, if not treated promptly. Vaccination is a key preventive measure.

What are mass vaccination clinics, and how effective are they in controlling outbreaks like the one at the university?

Mass vaccination clinics are temporary healthcare setups, like those deployed at the university, intended to provide vaccinations to a large number of people in a short period. While these clinics can quickly reach a substantial portion of the population, they are not always as effective as hoped. The effort at the university showed that the vaccination rates were low. Mass vaccination clinics can be useful in rapidly disbursing vaccines, but these results showed that they require significant resources and planning to be truly effective.

What are some of the reasons why college students might not get vaccinated against serogroup B meningococcal disease?

Several factors can impede college students from getting vaccinated. The study showed concerns about contracting meningococcal disease, parental requests, preferred communication method (e-mail), and more. Low perceived risk, lack of awareness, concerns about vaccine side effects, and logistical barriers can also play a role. To increase vaccination rates, universities need to address these barriers through targeted communication and convenient access to vaccines.

What are targeted vaccination strategies, and how do they differ from mass vaccination clinics in responding to outbreaks?

Targeted vaccination strategies focus on vaccinating specific groups of individuals who are at higher risk of contracting a disease. In the context of the university outbreak, freshmen and members of Greek organizations were identified as high-risk groups. This strategy involves identifying and prioritizing these groups for vaccination to maximize the impact of limited resources and improve overall protection. It also involves tailoring messages to resonate with these specific groups, as demonstrated by the use of e-mail as a communication tool.

What do vaccination rates tell us about the effectiveness of public health responses to outbreaks of serogroup B meningococcal disease?

Vaccination rates reflect the proportion of a population that has been vaccinated against a specific disease. Low vaccination rates, like those observed at the university (with only 4% completing the vaccine series), can lead to outbreaks and increased vulnerability to the disease. Higher vaccination rates provide herd immunity, which protects even those who are not vaccinated by reducing the overall spread of the disease. Improving vaccination rates is crucial for preventing future outbreaks and safeguarding public health.