FLORENCE-On December 21, 2007, Jessica Elkins, a junior varsity cheerleader at Athens High School, was looking forward to 
enjoying the Christmas holiday break with her family and friends. After completing her final exams that day, Jessica joined her sister for lunch at a local Athens restaurant. While at lunch, Jessica began experiencing pain in her hips and legs, and left the restaurant to go wait in the car. Once home, the pain became worse and she was taken to the doctor who diagnosed Jessica with the flu and advised her to get some rest. That night Jessica began vomiting while the pain worsened. Jessica’s mother then noticed what appeared to be a quarter size bruise on her daughter’s hip and after closer inspection, she noticed purple spots all over Jessica’s body. Jessica was taken to another doctor who recognized the purple marks as a sign of meningococcal meningitis. Thereafter, Jessica was immediately taken to the emergency room where the diagnosis of meningococcal meningitis was confirmed and subsequently airlifted to a hospital for treatment.
Tammy Irons
By December 23, Jessica had developed pneumonia and on Christmas Eve, Jessica was connected to a machine to assist with her breathing. On Christmas Day, Jessica’s kidneys began to fail. The day after Christmas, doctors removed Jessica from the breathing machine and she passed away. Jessica was to have received her vaccination for meningitis in March 2008.
Determined to raise awareness of meningococcal meningitis so other families would not have to experience the same pain, Jessica’s mother, Michelle Elkins, joined the National Meningitis Association’s “Mom’s on Meningitis” program. According to Michelle Elkins “it is my goal to educate other families in Alabama on all aspects of meningococcal meningitis – – from its causes, symptoms and means of transmission to the available vaccines and the importance of immunizations.”
It was Michelle’s determination that caused her to contact Senator Tammy Irons – Florence (D) about ways to help bring awareness to this rare and sometimes fatal disease. According to Sen. Irons, “Michelle Elkins’ passion for turning a tragedy into something positive is what caught my attention.” After hearing Jessica’s story, Sen. Irons introduced legislation to help the Elkins’ family bring awareness to this disease. Senate Bill 75, known as the “Jessica Elkins Act”, provides that if a local board of education provides information on immunizations, infectious diseases, medications or other school health issues to parents of students in grades 6 through 12, then certain information regarding meningococcal meningitis disease and its vaccine shall also be provided. That information would include a description of the causes, symptoms and means of transmission of the disease. Irons said “it is my hope and desire that this bill will save lives.”
According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, vaccination is recommended for all 11 and 12 year olds. While anyone can contract the disease, teenagers and young adults have the highest risk of this disease.
The Alabama Senate passed the “Jessica Elkins Act” this week. The bill will now move to the House of Representatives for final passage.
MEDIA RELEASE/ SENATOR TAMMY IRONS
