All incoming Nicholls State University freshmen and students residing on campus, including those in residence halls and La Maison du Bayou, are now required to be vaccinated against bacterial meningitis according to state law.

Michelle Caruso, dean of Student Services, said Nicholls is waiting for additional guidelines from the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals to explain how the university should implement the new law. House Bill 768, which was signed this legislative session, requires the secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals to submit policies, including an implementation schedule, to the Board of Regents by Aug. 1.

"The supply issue is the biggest problem," Caruso said.

"There is a tremendous shortage in supply for meningitis vaccines not just in Louisiana but nationwide. We alone would need more than 1,000 vaccines, and that's not counting other state colleges."

Vaccine shortages led the legislature to identify first-time freshmen and resident students as the first priority of college students to be immunized. The law requires that such students present evidence of vaccination beginning this fall semester "unless the secretary determines that an insufficient supply of vaccine is available." The additional guidelines are expected to include how long first priority students will have to get the vaccine and when immunization will be required for all other students.

Caruso said students will have the option of signing a waiver for the meningitis vaccine as they do for other immunizations.

Previously, Louisiana did not require immunization against meningitis although the vaccine was recommended by the American College Health Association. At Nicholls, University Health Services offers the Menactra vaccine, which is effective against meningitis for three to five years, for $85. UHS administered six vaccines to students in spring

2005 and 16 vaccines in fall 2005.

Jan Thomas, director of UHS, said the number of vaccines administered last semester jumped to 109, mostly resulting from reported cases of meningitis at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and Loyola University.

Thomas said only one company manufactures the vaccine, and colleges have supply order limits. Last semester, UHS was allowed to order more than normal, which is approximately 20 vaccines per month, because of need.