Meningitis

Teenagers and “fresher” students going to university for the first time are advised to have a vaccination to prevent meningitis and septicaemia, which can be deadly.

The MenACWY vaccination is being offered to teenagers and also to first-time college and university students who haven’t already had the vaccination.

Schoolchildren

Children aged 13 to 14 (school year 9) are being offered the MenACWY vaccine in school as part of the routine adolescent schools programme, alongside the 3-in-1 teenage booster, and as a direct replacement for the Meningitis C vaccination.

Older Teenagers

The MenACWY vaccine provides important protection, and all teenagers born between 1st September 1998 and 31st August 1999 are advised to arrange vaccination now with their GP surgery.

In addition, if you were born on or after 1st September 1996 and you missed routine school vaccination in school years 9 and 10 or the catch-up MenACWY vaccination you can get the vaccine from us up to your 25th birthday.

University Students

If you are a students going to university or college for the first time, including overseas and mature students, and you have not yet had the MenACWY vaccine you remain eligible up to your 25th birthday.

You should contact us to have the MenACWY vaccine before starting university or college. If that’s not possible, you should have it as soon as you can after you arrive.