Student hospitalised with meningitis in Norwich says getting jabbed will save lives

1 in 8 of those going to college or university this year haven't been vaccinated against this potentially fatal disease

Author: Tom ClabonPublished 9th Sep 2024
Last updated 9th Sep 2024

A student who was hospitalised with meningitis while visiting friends at a university in Norfolk is urging freshers to learn from her example and get jabbed against it before they head back.

It's as data from the UK Health Security Agency shows that 1 in 8 of those going to college or university this year haven't been vaccinated against this potentially fatal disease.

"I don't think I went clubbing for 4 or 5 months afterwards"

Katharine Wade says it's had a big impact on her: "I hadn't really heard of it at before I got it or knew too much about it. I had heard of sepsis, but I didn't know that you could catch it this way.

"It took me quite a few months to go clubbing again, I don't think I went clubbing for 4 or 5 months afterwards. It definitely made me more wary about what I'm doing in the clubs as well and I now make sure that I'm not ill before I go out, just to be sure.

"The experience has made my anxiety so much worse, but thankfully my Uni has helped me get therapy for it."

The 3 vaccines students should be up to date with before starting university or college are:

MenACWY – protecting against 4 common strains causing meningitis and septicaemia

MMR – protecting against measles, mumps, and rubella

HPV – protecting against human papilloma virus related cancers such as cervical cancer and other cancers of the head, neck and genital areas, and genital warts

Getting vaccinated:

The latest 2021 to 2022 MenACWY coverage data shows the vaccination rate has fallen to 79.6%.

According to UKHSA this means that the figure will rise to around 1 in 5 pupils being unprotected when they start college or university in a few years’ time if they don’t catch up with their vaccinations.

The MenACWY vaccine is routinely offered to those in school years 9 and 10 but anyone who has missed out can still get a free jab with their GP until their 25th birthday.

Meningitis and septicaemia symptoms include a blotchy rash that doesn’t fade when a glass is rolled over it, fever, headache, aching muscles and joints and a stiff neck. The MenW strain can also cause vomiting and diarrhoea in teenagers and young adults.

"Contacting your GP for the vaccine should be top of your list of urgent things to do"

Dr Shamez Ladhani, Consultant Epidemiologist at UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said:

"Every year we see new and returning students get seriously ill, with some tragically dying, from what are preventable diseases.

"With large numbers of students coming together from around the country and overseas for the first time, and closely mixing, infection can spread easily.

"Ensuring you are protected against these deadly bugs is vital. If you’ve missed out on your meningitis (MenACWY), HPV or MMR jabs then contacting your GP for the vaccine should be top of your list of urgent things to do before starting college or university."

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