Students starting university this autumn will soon be rubbing up against tons of new people, some of whom may be carrying diseases. For this reason new starters under 25 have been urged by officials to get a new vaccine, the Men ACWY, before they start school. It was introduced for Uni students in the UK last year, as the chances of them mixing with new people who may carry the virus is particularly high at this time of their lives.
It protects against the strains of meningitis most frequently associated with death and disability, and could prevent students from the horrific side-effects of the disease. Meningitis W is fatal in 1 in 10 cases, and can lead to long-term health problems. GPs in England are inviting 17 and 18 year olds to come in for a vaccine, and first-time students under 25 are also eligible.
The vaccine has come at the right time, as almost 200 people got meningitis W in the last 12 months – compared to just 22 in 2009 in England. The jab takes just a couple of moments with minimal pain, so it's 100% worth getting if you're eligible!
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.