ATHENS, Ohio -- Ohio University's Student Health Service has contracted VaccessHealth, a private company that specializes in providing college students with vaccines for preventable diseases, to administer bacterial meningitis immunizations to students from 1 to 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 25 at Baker University Center Ballroom.

Meningitis immunizations cost $80 and students have the option of being billed through their student accounts. Originally, the clinic was supposed to also provide influenza immunizations, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently asked health care officials to reserve influenza shots for high-risk individuals and health care workers.

"We have been informed that there is a shortage of available influenza vaccines at this time, so we have been asked to be proactive." said Jacki Legg, Student Health Service business manager. "The CDC wants to make sure individuals who desperately need the vaccine can receive it."

VaccessHealth educates and notifies parents and students through the use of letters, flyers, posters and newspaper articles and has worked with more than 300 schools and 120,000 students around the country.

The American College Health Association and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that all students living in residence halls receive the meningitis vaccine. For more information, contact Jacki Legg at (740) 593-1660 or legg@ohio.edu.