My son is 19 years old and a sophomore at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. He has not had the vacination and I would like for him to. Is he too old and are there resources to pay for the vacine?

Evelyn Brooks responds:

The meningococcal conjugate vaccine, Menactra, is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use among persons aged 2 to 55 years. I recommend that you contact your health care provider to discuss whether vaccination is appropriate for your son.

If your son is already on campus, I would suggest he speak to a qualified health care provider at the student health center. Most college student health centers have the vaccine available to the students at the lowest cost they can provide it.

Another option may be a large pharmacy chain, such as CVS. They often offer vaccines, including meningococcal.

If your son’s health insurance does not cover the vaccination, some public health departments provide vaccines free or at minimal cost. You may wish to contact the local health department, in your area or near the university, for more information.