( CNN ) -- Princeton University will make a meningitis B vaccine available to all undergraduate students , graduate students living in dorms or the Graduate College and annexes , and other university community members with particular medical conditions , the school said Tuesday . The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have officially recommended that these groups of people receive the vaccine , Princeton said . The CDC 's Institutional Review Board approved this measure Tuesday afternoon , spokeswoman Barbara Reynolds said . The vaccine , which is not licensed for use in the United States , will not be provided to anyone else or given out anywhere else , the school said . Young adults and individuals with certain medical conditions have an increased risk of meningitis , especially when living in close proximity to one another , such as in dormitories , the school said . The vaccine is called Bexsero and is made by Novartis . It has been approved in Europe and Australia . The first dose of the vaccine will be available at the school 's Frist Campus Center from December 9 to December 12 , and the second dose will be available in February . For maximum protection , individuals must receive two doses . Princeton will cover the cost of the vaccine . The vaccine would be recommended for about 5,000 undergraduates and 550 graduate students in dorms , university spokesman Martin Mbugua had told CNN previously . Additionally , around half a dozen people with conditions that fall under the recommendation would also be affected , although there may be more who have not yet disclosed their conditions , he said . These include conditions where the spleen is compromised , or certain other immune system disorders . The school announced Friday that an eighth case of meningitis B had been reported , the latest in a string of cases reported this year . All eight were caused by a rare meningococcal bacteria known as serotype B . Also last week , the University of California , Santa Barbara , reported that three students were being treated for meningococcal disease and that their cases were caused by type B bacteria -- the same bacteria strain causing the Princeton outbreak . However , no link has been found between the California cases and those at Princeton , the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department said . New Jersey state law requires all students at Princeton living in dormitories to receive a different meningitis vaccine , which is licensed in the United States . That vaccine protects against some other strains , but not serotype B bacteria . Any Princeton student who received the usual meningitis vaccine would not not be protected , Princeton said . What is meningitis B ? Meningitis is caused by inflammation of the membranes that cover the brain and the spinal cord , known as the meninges . Infection of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord usually causes this inflammation , according to the CDC . Meningitis usually develops in response to bacteria or viruses , but there can be other forms and causes , such as physical injury , cancer or certain drugs , according to the CDC . The bacterial form is rare in the United States , and the group B bacterial strains are even more rare . Meningitis can spread via the exchange of saliva and other respiratory secretions through kissing , coughing , sharing drinks and living in close quarters , such as in dormitories , according to the New Jersey state health department . Symptoms can include a stiff neck , headache , fever , vomiting , rashes , sensitivity to light and confusion . Untreated , the disease can lead to complications such as hearing impairment , brain damage , limb amputations and death . Antibiotic treatment of the most common types of bacterial meningitis `` should reduce the risk of dying from meningitis to below 15 % , although the risk remains higher among young infants and the elderly , '' according to the CDC . In 2012 , there were 480 cases of bacterial meningitis in the United States , according to the CDC . Of those , 160 were group B . School activities continue . Several students told CNN that their peers are not overly afraid of getting meningitis , but that it 's definitely a topic of conversation . `` I think students do know that it is an important and fatal issue that is spreading on campus -- and each student individually decides to what degree to protect themselves , '' Stephen Cognetta , a junior , said in an e-mail . In Princeton 's statement Tuesday , the university said : `` The CDC and state health officials recommend that classes and activities at Princeton University continue as planned , and the surrounding community can continue to attend events on the campus . They do not recommend any travel restrictions for members of the University community . '' The university celebrated its football team 's victories over Harvard and Yale on Sunday with a bonfire . Michigan , feds to share info in meningitis probe . CNN 's Miriam Falco contributed to this report .
The second dose of the meningitis B vaccine will be available at Princeton in March . Princeton has reported around half a dozen cases of meningitis B since December . The vaccine is called CNN and is made by Novartis .