18/08/2016

Call For Students To Get Meningitis Vaccine

Students are being urged to get the meningitis vaccine by the Public Health Agency.

Everyone born between 02 July 1997 and 01 July 1999, and first time university students up to the age of 25, are entitled to the Men ACWY vaccine.

Dr Lucy Jessop, Consultant in Health Protection at the PHA, explained: "Older teenagers are at higher risk of getting MenW disease, so you need to get vaccinated to help protect yourself. It will also reduce the risk of you carrying the bacteria, therefore also protecting those around you.

"Older teenagers and those starting university for the first time usually mix with larger groups of people, making them more exposed to various infections or diseases. The best way to protect against meningococcal A, C, W, or Y disease is to get the vaccine before starting university.

"Even if you have recently had the MenC vaccine, for example in school, you should still get the Men ACWY vaccine. It will increase your protection against Men C and provide protection against the three other meningococcal groups."

(CD/MH)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

10 August 2023
PHA Issues HPV Vaccination Reminder For Year 9 Pupils
The Public Health Agency (PHA) has issued a reminder to parents of children entering Year 9 in September, that they will be offered the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine during the first school term. This year teenagers will only require a single HPV jab, following updated advice from Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
17 November 2021
Ministers Discussing Introduction Of Mandatory Vaccine Passports
The Executive has met today to discuss the proposed introduction of mandatory vaccine passports. However, according to reports, Ministers have received a 'modelling paper' ahead of the meeting highlighting that more "tougher" restrictions may need to be introduced to avoid overwhelming hospitals.
12 October 2021
Dept Of Health Details Winter Vaccination Programme
Northern Ireland's winter vaccination programme has been detailed by the Department of Health. The Covid vaccination programme is continuing, alongside the new booster programme, and this year's flu vaccination drive has now gotten underway.
19 July 2021
Interim Vaccine Certificate Now Available Online
The Interim Vaccine Certificate is now available to be downloaded at home, the Department for Health has announced. The current process is transitioning to the planned CCS (COVID Certification Service) and the first phase will commence this weekend for all new COVID Certificate requests.
14 August 2009
Swine Flu: Latest NI Figures
As the priority groups who will be first to receive the swine flu vaccine were being revealed today, the Department of Health has also published the weekly flu bulletin. There were 12 new cases of laboratory confirmed swine flu during week 32, (last week) but the total number of such clinically tested cases in Northern Ireland has yet to reach 100.