07-049 817th Engineer Company Received Meningitis Vaccine
by Master Sgt. Rob Keller Posted on 8/15/2007
Bismarck, ND - The N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office recently received several calls inquiring whether Soldiers assigned to the 817th Engineer Company, currently undergoing mobilization training at Ft. McCoy, Wis. were exposed to bacterial meningitis. Recent news reports suggest that a Virginia Army National Guard Soldier's death may have been the result of this infection. The Soldier was also undergoing training at Ft. McCoy.
The 817th commander, Capt. Craig Hillig, informed National Guard leadership that members of his unit had not been in the vicinity of the infected Soldier. Additionally, Soldiers from the 817th received meningococcal vaccine along with other medical precautionary vaccines and when the unit conducted "Soldier Readiness Processing" in N.D. prior to reporting to Ft. McCoy.
The following statement is from Col. Craig Lambrecht, N.D. National Guard State Surgeon relating to this vaccine.
"The soldiers of the North Dakota Guard received a meningococcal vaccine which protects soldiers against the most common forms of bacterial meningitis. The vaccine is administered before soldiers leave the State. The vaccine is not 100 percent effective but it is the best meningitis vaccine available. North Dakota soldiers are among the most medically fit and prepared warfighters in the country. The medical providers of the North Dakota Guard take a great deal of pride in providing the best health care for their fellow soldiers in preparation for the country's vital military missions." -30-
