If your child is starting college or university this autumn, it is worth ensuring that they have recieved their MenACWY vaccine.
The MenACWY vaccine protects against meningitis, sepsis and septicaemia (blood poisoning), which are all very serious, potentially life-threatening, and can lead to life-changing disabilities.
Anyone can get meningitis, but it's most common in babies, children, teenagers and young adults. Babies are given the MenB vaccine to help protect against a common type of bacteria that causes meningitis.
The MenACWY vaccine is given to teenagers and helps protect against 4 other types of bacteria linked to meningitis. The MenACWY vaccine is recommended for all teenagers. It's usually given to children when they're 13 or 14 years old (school year 9 or 10).
Meningitis can spread very quickly in places like universities and colleges, so If you're under 25 and you've not had the MenACWY vaccine, you should ideally have it at least 2 weeks before starting college or university. Ask a GP about getting vaccinated.
If you've already started college or university, get the vaccine as soon as possible. Ask at the health centre on campus or register with a GP to get it.
If you missed having the vaccine when you were at school, you can still recieve it up to the age of 25 years. It's also available for some people who are at increased risk of getting meningitis because of:
- a medical condition
- work
- travel
- close contact with someone who's infected
A spokesperson said: "Although the vaccine is very effective, it does not prevent all types of meningitis, so it's still important to be aware of the symptoms of meningitis even if you've been vaccinated."
For more information on the symptoms of meningitis visit: @SymptomsofMeningitis
For more information on the vaccine visit:@MenACWYVaccine
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