School leavers urged to get new meningitis vaccine

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is encouraging school leavers and first-time university students to get the new meningococcal vaccine which is now available. This vaccination helps protect against four different causes of meningitis and septicaemia – meningococcal A, C, W and Y diseases.

Through a new immunisation programme, everyone born between 2 July 1996 and 1 July 1997, and first time university students up to the age of 25, will be offered the ‘Men ACWY’ vaccine.

School leavers can arrange this through their GP and those continuing to third level studies are encouraged to have it before they start university, if possible, and if not, to have it in the first week of term.

Even if someone has recently had the ‘MenC’ vaccine, for example in school, they should still get the Men ACWY vaccine as it will increase protection against Men C and provide protection against the three other meningococcal groups.