Rosenthal said heightened national awareness about meningitis led to a considerable increase in the number of vaccinations given at UHS, although that number has declined substantially in recent weeks.

"We've probably given [the vaccine] twice as much as we've ever given it before," Rosenthal said.

UHS, however, has stopped far short of recommending that students opt for the vaccine.

Noting that the vaccine may not have prevented cases of meningitis that caused deaths at colleges this year, Rosenthal said individuals should decide on their own whether to get the meningitis vaccine.

"From what I know about the meningococcal vaccine, I am leaving it up to an individual choice," Rosenthal said. "It depends on how people feel about their own health needs."

Rosenthal said people tend to overreact when there are a few well-publicized reports of meningitis cases.

"When someone dies of a devastating disease, everybody wants to cure it or prevent it," he said. "But how significant is that as an overall problem in the United States? That's why its important to look at statistics and approach things as rationally as you can."

Public Policy