AROUND one in eight new students are unprotected against four deadly types of meningitis nationally – while around one in five young people in the West Midlands region missed their MenACWY vaccine at school, according to the UK Health Security Agency.
Now the UKHSA and leading meningitis charities are urging students to ensure they have been vaccinated against meningitis and other diseases before the start of the academic year.
The NHS schools MenACWY immunisation programme is offered to all pupils in Year 9 and 10.
MenACWY immunisation protects people from four common strains of meningitis and septicaemia.
It says all first-year students starting college or university this September and returning students who are not up to date with all their childhood and adolescent vaccines are at increased risk of serious diseases such as meningitis, septicaemia, and measles as they mix with large numbers of other students from around the country and overseas.
Health protection consultation Emma Booth said: “Vaccines are our best line of defence against many unpleasant and often life-changing and life-threatening infections.
“Worryingly, many young people in the West Midlands are not up to date with their free NHS routine vaccinations, leaving them at risk of catching these infections.
“This is even more of a concern when young people are leaving school and going into higher education, work and travelling abroad – mixing with a much wider group of people, and people from around the world.
“We urge people to check their vaccine records and make sure they get up to date with these essential vaccines as soon as possible, and before going to college or university.”
