14 Aug Important Health Information for Students Leaving Year 14
The Public Health Agency have asked us to raise awareness of new meningococcal ACWY vaccine for pupils leaving Year 14.
In the last few years there has been an increasing number of cases of meningococcal group W disease and there is no sign of this decreasing. Older teenagers and young adults are more at risk from getting meningitis and septicaemia from meningococcal group W.
A new vaccination programme is being rolled out this year. The first cohort of young people to be offered the vaccine this summer are those who have just left Year 14 (date of birth 2/7/96 to 1/7/97). You should be receiving a letter inviting you for the vaccine from your GP, but it is really important that you get the vaccine as soon as possible, particularly if you are going on to university where you will be mixing closely with new people and would therefore be more at risk.
If you do not receive the letter, please contact your GP before heading off to university.