Left: Ron Albrecht holds a photo of his 15 year-old son, Drew, who he lost to meningitis 7 years ago. He spoke at a press conference today at Chief Sealth High School promoting vaccinations. Pictured right, LIb Kratz, high school nurse vaccinates Lawrance Causey, senior, West Seattle resident of Admiral.
UPDATE Thursday
Today at Chief Sealth International High School speakers gathered to draw attention to the issue of teen susceptibility to Meningococcal disease, from 10:30 – 11:15 a.m.
Meningococcal disease, which includes meningitis, can take the life of an otherwise healthy young person in just a single day. Teens and preteens are at higher risk of contracting this deadly disease due to low vaccination rates and personal habits. Examples include sharing water bottles and eating utensils, kissing on the lips, close interaction at boarding schools and sleep-away camps. Death rates are up to five times higher among teenagers and young adults compared with younger age groups.
To address this issue Constantine, Neighborcare Health and the Immunization Action Coalition of Washington (IACW) have joined forces with the School Nurses Organization of Washington (SNOW)’s Voices of Meningitis campaign to declare October 20 Seattle Meningitis Awareness Day to increase vaccination rates among preteens and teens.
Also on hand was Janet Cady, pediatric nurse practitioner, assistant medical director, Neighborcare Health, Betsy Hubbard, IACW and Lynne Grubb, school nurse, and member, SNOW.
Woodenville resident Ron Albrecht, who lost his son Drew to meningitis when he was 15, shared his story to inspire parents to discuss vaccination with their teens’ health-care providers.
Ron Albrecht lost his son to the disease in 24 hours
Albrecht, a land surveyor, spoke to the West Seattle Herald after the press conference.
"I'm a Seattle guy, been here 53 years. I lost my son Drew seven years ago, and lost him within 24 hours of showing symptoms. It just devastated us. He was transitioning from (3-year) junior high to high school. Four days after coming back from football camp on a July 4th weekend is when he passed away. His first symptom, and only symptom until he passed away, was a headache.
"Doctors were not as aware as they are now about meningitis. Usually by the time you can tell it's meningitis it's too late. The last words my son spoke to me were, 'Dad, my head is exploding.' I've become a strong proponent for all vaccinations. So many kids are opting out of operations these days. It scares me."
The Albrechts have four other children.
"If asked, I say we 'had' five kids, and now have four," he said. "That gives me an opportunity to launch into my spiel."
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Voices of Meningitis is an educational campaign from the National Association of School Nurses in collaboration with Sanofi Pasteur that brings together the many “voices of meningitis” -- school nurses, parents, survivors of the disease and public health officials -- to help educate families of preteens and teens about the dangers of meningococcal meningitis and the importance of vaccination. More information can be found at www.VoicesOfMeningitis.org.
Following the press conference, a few students received their meningococcal vaccinations on-site in front of the press.
Meningococcal vaccination rates among adolescents in Washington have increased by nearly 30 percent from 2008 to 2010, but today nearly one-third of teens statewide still have not been vaccinated, and rates are still below national public health goals. This is in spite of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations that preteens and teens get vaccinated beginning at age 11, with a booster dose by 18 years of age.
