University makes call to get Cambridgeshire students vaccinated
Students are being urged to check if they've had the relevant vaccines
Students in Cambridgeshire are being made aware that they can get protected from infection if they want it.
The UK Health Security Agency's (UKHSA) reminding all higher education and university students – freshers and returning students – to make sure they are up to date with their free NHS childhood and adolescent vaccines ahead of the new academic year.
These include vaccines against meningitis, measles and HPV.
Libby Homer is the director of student and library services at Anglia Ruskin University:
"You may have heard of freshers flu where people tend to get a cold or an illness a couple of weeks after starting university, and that happens to staff and students," she said.
"What we hope is our students are vaccinated against some of those more common and serious diseases.
"Outbreaks of mumps for example, which is serious to adults as well as children, (could lead to) maybe directed by your local health authority, to lock down a flat or a part of your residences or a house."
The UKHSA say there are increases in meningococcal meningitis after the new university term starts in September.
Dr Shamez Ladhani is a consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA:
"New and returning students from around the country and overseas coming together and mixing means infection spreads easily, with some students becoming seriously ill and tragically in some cases, we see deaths.
"I urge young people starting or returning to university to check they’re up to date on their MenACWY, HPV and MMR jabs and to contact their GP if unsure."
But despite a vaccination clinic being set up at Anglia Ruskin University as part of freshers' week, Ms Homer said it is optional.
"What we want to do is say if students become aware they don't have the MMR jab or outbreaks in terms of diseases and have the option to do it (get vaccinated), we're providing that opportunity," she added.