A student of ours is currently recovering from Meningitis B which was acquired at university.
Teenagers are more likely to carry meningococcal bacteria in the back of their throats. Giving a vaccine to 14 – 18 year olds and new university students will directly protect this age group and also reduce the chance of the bacteria spreading to others. A particularly aggressive strain of Men W is causing disease in all age groups but particularly in university students.
All 14 – 18 year olds are currently offered the Meningitis ACWY but not the vaccine against Meningitis B.
We would strongly urge teenagers to book an appointment to get vaccinated against Meningitis B before they go to university.