News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 23, 2015
Media Contacts:

Joe Miner, M.D., Executive Director

801-538-6689
joeminer@udoh.org

Michael Hales, Director

801-538-6111
michaelhales@udoh.org

Olympian Dara Torres encourages Utah mothers to vaccinate kids for meningitis
Vaccination Prevents Young, Healthy People from Contracting Deadly Disease
SALT LAKE CITY, UT. (August 23, 2015)- As the new school year approaches, Olympian Dara Torres
encourages Utah mothers to talk to doctors about the meningitis vaccine. Torres, 12-time Olympic
swimming medalist and mother of two teens, plans to tour the state and participate in swimming races
against local high school swim teams to raise awareness for the disease.
Meningitis is a lesser known disease that can kill teens within 24 hours. Symptoms of the disease are
similar to the flu: fever, vomiting, headache, stiff neck, sensitivity to light and drowsiness. Approximately
1,000 people contract meningitis in the U.S. each year. 1 in 10 of those people die, and up to 1 in 5
sustain permanent disability such as brain damage, loss of kidney function, deafness and even loss of
limbs.
Only 29 percent of Utah teens receive the necessary vaccines to protect against the disease.
The Utah Department of Health along with experts from the Center for Disease Control and Voices of
Meningitis assert that Utah mothers can guarantee a teens safety by talking to a doctor about the
meningitis vaccine. A child should receive a dose of the vaccine at age 11 or 12, and then a second
vaccination at age 16. If kids arent getting both of these vaccinations, they are susceptible to contract
this 24 hour death-disease.
When I first heard about the dangers of meningitis, I immediately talked to my doctor, as any good
mother would do, said Dara Torres. Getting informed by my doctor about the benefits of the
meningitis vaccine calmed my fears. To every mother who hasnt had a conversation with their doctor
about the meningitis vaccine- dont wait a second longer!
Torress campaign to raise awareness for meningitis is being implemented by The Utah Department of
Health and experts from Centers for Disease Control and Voices of Meningitis. The campaign will begin
August 28th in St. George, UT. Torres has plans to visit Manti, Provo, Salt Lake City and Logan.
For more information on Dara Torress meningitis campaign, visit health.utah.gov/DaraTorres.

About Utah Department of Health

The Utah Department of Health is committed to making sure Utahns are the healthiest people in the
U.S. The Utah Department of Health detects and prevents outbreaks from diseases, promotes healthy
lifestyles, protects citizens from natural and man-made disasters, and provides access to health care
services. For more information, visit health.utah.gov/about.