Freshers urged to drop in and get free meningitis vaccine

Thursday 13 August 2015

When teenagers pick up their A level results today they'll also learn how they can protect themselves against a potentially lethal disease.

The Health Department will let them know about the three free ‘drop-in’ sessions they are running in town this summer so that all 18-year-old freshers can get the new meningitis vaccine before they head off to university.

Jersey’s Medical Officer of Health Dr Susan Turnbull said: “I am very pleased that we are in a position to offer protection against this relatively new health threat, starting with those who would be most at risk. Since 2009, and particularly in the last two years, there has been a steep rise in the number of cases of meningococcal W (MenW) disease in the UK.

“Men W hasn’t been seen yet in Jersey, but experience tells us it is only a matter of time before diseases circulating in the UK arrive here and the intention is to take effective preventative measures before that happens.”

Meningitis is an infection of the lining of the brain, can be associated with septicaemia and can be deadly if not caught early.

The jabs are being offered to all teenagers born between 1 September 1996 and 31 August 1997 even if they are taking a gap year or starting work in Jersey this year and to any other young people heading off to university who were not born that year.

The ‘drop-in’ sessions are being run in St Paul’s Centre from 10am until 12 noon on Monday 17 August, Thursday 20 August and Thursday 3 September.

Head of Healthcare Programmes Dr Linda Diggle said: “It’s important that anyone who plans to go to university this year for the first time gets vaccinated, ideally at least two weeks before they leave, because they will be mixing closely with lots of new people, some of whom may unknowingly be carrying the meningococcal bacteria.”

All students will get the information they need about the vaccination programme when they pick up their A level results and they can also find it here or on the NHS Choices website.

Next term the vaccine will be offered to other students in years' 9,10,11,12 and 13 and schools will be letting parents know the exact dates. The Health department are urging parents not to send younger children to the drop-in sessions as they will be turned away.