Patriots' Path Council, Bsa Sabattis Meningitis Letter And Form printable pdf download

Patriots' Path Council, Bsa Sabattis Meningitis Letter And Form

March 18, 2015

Dear Parent:

I am writing to inform you about meningococcal disease, a potentially fatal bacterial infection

commonly referred to as meningococcal meningitis. New York State Public Health Law (NYS PHL) §2167

and Subpart 7-2 of the State Sanitary Code requires overnight children’s camps to distribute

information about meningococcal disease and vaccination to all campers who attend camp for 7 or

more consecutive nights.

Patriots’ Path Council, BSA, is required to maintain a record of the following for each camper:



A response to receipt of meningococcal disease and vaccine information signed by the camper’s parent

or guardian; AND EITHER



A record of meningococcal meningitis immunization OR



An acknowledgement of meningococcal disease risks and refusal of meningococcal meningitis

immunization signed by the camper’s parent or guardian.

Meningococcal disease is a serious bacterial illness. It is a leading cause of bacterial meningitis in

children 2 through 18 years old in the United States. Meningitis is an infection of the covering of the

brain and the spinal cord. Meningococcal disease also causes blood infections.

About 1,000 – 1,200 people get meningococcal disease each year in the U.S. Even when they are

treated with antibiotics, 10-15% of these people die. Of those who live, another 11%-19% lose their

arms or legs, have problems with their nervous systems, become deaf, or suffer seizures or strokes.

Anyone can get meningococcal disease. But it is most common in infants less than one year of age and

people 16-21 years. Children with certain medical conditions, such as lack of a spleen, have an

increased risk of getting meningococcal disease. College freshmen living in dorms are also at increased

risk.

Meningococcal infections can be treated with drugs such as penicillin. Still, many people who get the

disease die from it, and many others are affected for life. This is why preventing the disease through

use of meningococcal vaccine is important for people at highest risk.

1 Saddle Road

Cedar Knolls, NJ 07927

Office: 973-765-9322

Fax: 973-267-3406

Patriots' Path Council, Bsa Sabattis Meningitis Letter And Form