Legislation

Passes high school and college meningitis education law November 2001.

> See MI Law.

Requires information on meningococcal disease be distributed to students in grades 6, 9 and 12.

> See HB 4726.

Requires for all children 11 - 18 years of age who are changing school districts or who are enrolled in 6th grade to receive meningococcal vaccine.

> See Mandate.

Download PDF Flier about the Mandate.

State Events

State M.O.M.s

Peggy LaPorte
Grand Blanc, Michigan

Mother of Jennifer O'Neil, Who Died of Meningococcal Disease

Jennifer Oneil

Peggy's daughter, Jennifer, was a 24-year-old woman who had her whole life ahead of her. She had a good job and was going to school full time at a community college. On Monday, March 7, 2005, Jennifer came down with a bad headache. A few hours later, she started vomiting and had a fever of 103.4. That night Jennifer collapsed on the bathroom floor and Peggy rushed her to the hospital. By the next morning, Jennifer's lips turned blue and a purple rash covered her body. She was placed on a ventilator, but when her condition worsened, Jennifer was transported to another hospital. At first, she seemed to show improvement, however, she began to have difficulty breathing, and her liver and kidneys continued to fail. It wasn't until after Jennifer's death that Peggy learned vaccination can prevent meningococcal disease.

For more information about prevention and meningococcal vaccination recommendations, click here.

"I didn't know about this disease, none of us did," said Peggy. "This could have been prevented."

> Listen to PSA (mp3)

Bea Rosalez
Hart, Michigan

Mother of Lucas, Who Died of Meningococcal Disease

Lucas Rosalez

As a junior in high school, Bea Rosalez's son, Lucas, was an active, respectful young man who loved snowboarding, running cross country and spending time with his friends.

One afternoon in the early summer of 2007, Lucas wasn't feeling very well and thought he was coming down with the flu. Within hours, Lucas' condition worsened and he became disoriented and confused, his breathing became incredibly rapid, and he began developing a small purple rash behind his ear. Once at the hospital, Lucas was diagnosed with meningococcemia, a form of meningococcal disease that poisons the blood system, and died only 12 hours after his first symptoms appeared. It was not until after Lucas’ death that Bea learned there was a vaccine available that could have potentially saved her son's life.

> Full Bio (PDF)