The University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB) has been approved for an experimental meningitis vaccine, the same used at Princeton for their outbreak of the illness.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Friday the serogroup B meningococcal vaccine may be used for UCSB students. The drug is approved in Europe, Canada and Australia, but not the U.S.

Both UCSB and Princeton experienced meningitis outbreaks and now both schools will be able to say they vaccinated their students with the experimental drug. Eight students became sick with the illness since March at Princeton and four UCSB students did the same in Nov.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) won approval to import the drug for Princeton and then did the same for UCSB.

"The campus has not had any additional cases of meningitis since November; however, the CDC is recommending the vaccine to help protect the community," Mary Ferris, executive director of student health services, told the LAT.

The campus will begin vaccinations on Feb. 24 and they will last until March 7 and are recommended for all students and faculty. Also recommended for anyone on campus is to wash hands regularly and to not share cups or utensils.

According to NBC News, the CDC appeared ready to not request the vaccine for UCSB, which was met by a strong opposition from parents. Federal health officials backtracked and won the approval for the vaccine.

Meningitis is a serious infection that affects protective membranes of the brain and spinal cord. If not treated swiftly, the damage could be severe and long lasting.

Symptoms include a rapidly developing fever, severe headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, rapid breathing, sensitivity to light, confusion and rash. Since they are somewhat similar to those of a flu, patients with these symptoms should quickly seek medical attention.

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