Freshers are urged to be vaccinated against meningitis before they start university life

‘FRESHER’ STUDENTS are being urged to get vaccinated to protect themselves against meningitis before starting university.

Leading nurses have called on soon-to-be university students to get the vaccine for group W meningococcal disease (Men W). Cases of meningitis and blood poisoning caused by a highly virulent strain of Men W bacteria rapidly increased from 22 cases in England in 2009/10 to 210 in 2015/16.

As a result, health officials added the Men ACWY immunisation to the immunisation programme in August 2015. Older teenagers and university students are encouraged to get the Men ACWY vaccine to protect themselves against the deadly bacteria. This group is thought to be at a higher risk of infection because they mix closely with lots of new people – some of whom may unknowingly carry the meningococcal bacteria at the back of their noses and throats.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said young people who find out they have a place at university this week have only two weeks to get vaccinated in order to be immune from meningitis in time for the start of term.

The RCN said new students should make an appointment this month to give time for immunity to build before Freshers’ Week. It warned that MenW can be harder to spot due to symptoms less traditionally associated with meningitis, including diarrhoea and vomiting. A young woman who had to have both legs amputated below the knee after contracting MenW has backed the call.

Charlotte Hannibal, 21, from Nottingham, was 18 when she became ill with MenW septicaemia in February 2015, in her first year at Nottingham Trent University studying business.

She said: “I’m making progress every day now, but I’m encouraging everyone starting university this year to get vaccinated so they don’t have to go through what I have.”

The RCN has also called on health leaders to launch a campaign on social media to reach school leavers.