UK students back at university after Christmas to get vaccinated now

Unvaccinated first year students should get their free MenACWY vaccine from their GP now to stop the spread of meningococcal meningitis.

This warning comes from Public Health England (PHE) as it issues updated advice to universities. Meningitis Research Foundation (MRF) worked with PHE to update its guidance to higher education institutions to help them raise awareness amongst students of the vaccination and the symptoms of the disease.

PHE introduced the vaccination programme in 2015 to tackle a sharp increase in a particularly virulent strain of meningococcal W disease (MenW) that poses a high risk for new students.

Vinny Smith, Chief Executive of MRF has said, “We welcome this new updated guidance from PHE which will help higher education institutions raise awareness of the MenACWY vaccine.

"Research funded by MRF helped identify that the MenW strain of meningitis was particularly deadly and on the increase, yet uptake of the lifesaving vaccine to protect against it is still too low.

"We will continue to encourage students to get their vaccine and to know the symptoms of this deadly disease, but universities and parents too can play a key role in making sure that eligible students get their free vaccine.”

The new guidance for universities

More information form MRF about eligibility