It only takes a shot to save a life.

That’s the message MSU officials are hoping to get out with a new marketing strategy to promote immunizations for incoming freshmen and other students at risk for preventable diseases.

Immunization-themed posters and bookmarks were put strategically in various campus buildings, and depict either a basketball player mid-air or a tennis player mid-swing.

Both have the caption “Take the Shot” at the top.

“The posters are kind of a culmination of what started out as a letter-based immunization campaign, then went to a Web-based program,” said Elizabeth Elliott, administrative assistant in the university physician’s office.

“It was like the logical endpoint.”

MSU has steadily expanded its immunization promotions during the past two years. Since 1996 there have been six reported case of meningitis on campus - three of those resulted in death.

While the meningitis vaccine is promoted by the campaign, Elliott said the campaign also is aimed at the “big four” diseases - chickenpox, tetanus and diphtheria, hepatitis B and meningitis.

The posters and bookmarks were made public in late May, but have not yet made their way across campus.

Instead, Elliott said that medical officials showed the campaign at the university’s annual Academic Orientation Program at Case Hall, which ran during the summer for incoming freshmen.

While many incoming freshman seem to realize the importance of being immunized, they say MSU could promote it without the poster and bookmarks, which some say aren’t very noticeable.

“If they just show the facts, students will want to get immunized,” said no-preference freshman Jason Poniatowski, who had a friend who contracted a form of meningitis.

But other incoming freshman aren’t sold on the shots, which can cost more than $80 each.

“I don’t think it’s a big problem,” computational mathematics freshman Stephanie Bonk said.

“But it’s not something you should joke around with.”

It’s no joke to music education junior Adam Busuttil, who said he wished he had been vaccinated before coming to MSU.

Busuttil contracted the type Y strain of bacterial meningitis in 1998.

Although he survived the ordeal, portions of seven of his fingers and four of his toes had to be amputated.

Busuttil said that after the pain meningitis caused him and his family, a vaccination couldn’t be any kind of inconvenience.

“I would’ve rather spent $80 than lose fingertips and toes,” he said.

Busuttil has become a champion of the immunization message, he even lobbied the Legislature to pass laws to require the shots.

Meningitis is contracted through the exchange of bodily fluids - practices such as kissing and sharing utensils or tooth brushes.

Despite Busuttil’s efforts, there is not state requirement for college students to be immunized.

MSU does ask incoming freshmen to submit an immunization report via mail or e-mail, although the shots aren’t mandatory.

“Health care still remains an individual decision,” said Elliott, of the university physician’s office.

“What it asks families to do is review immunization materials and make the decision on their own.”