New meningitis vaccination programme begins today

MenACWY programme gets underway in Scotland

The MenACWY vaccine is introduced for 14-18 year olds from today, and young people are being urged to make sure they’re protected.

Earlier this year it was announced that in response to a rise in the number of cases of meningitis W, and based on advice from the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation, a MenACWY vaccine would be introduced to replace the MenC vaccine used in the adolescents and freshers vaccination programmes.

The vaccine will be offered to students under the age of 25 attending university for the first time this Autumn, along with a catch-up programme for all 14 to 18 year olds.

Those planning to go to university are urged to make an appointment at least two weeks before they go or, failing that, during Freshers’ week.

From this week, older teenagers will start receiving an invitation letter and information leaflet, asking those who have left school to get the vaccine at their GP practice as soon as possible.

Young people returning to school in August will receive their vaccine in school during the coming academic year.

Health Secretary Shona Robison said: “The launch of the MenW vaccine prevention programme for teenagers is great news. This vaccine also protects against MenA, MenC and MenY, making sure young people are protected at such an important time in their academic lives.

“I would urge everyone who is eligible for the vaccine to make an appointment with their GP, or if they’re still at school to take up the offer of the catch-up programme there. They might be busy preparing to leave for university, working or enjoying their summer break, but a short appointment really could make an enormous difference to their future health.”

CEO at Meningitis Now, Sue Davie said: “As a charity dealing with the consequences of the disease on a daily basis I would plead directly to parents across Scotland to make sure that their children get the Men ACWY vaccination. We are particularly concerned with those going to university in the autumn as they are at a higher risk from what has been called ‘freshers’ flu’.

“It is critical that young people are not complacent about the disease and they take the necessary steps to protect themselves, stay vigilant and seek urgent medical help if they suspect it. This is a cruel disease, it does not discriminate and could significantly alter the future outlook for young people if they are not protected or meningitis aware”.

Meningitis Research Foundation Scotland Manager Mary Millar said: “Adolescents aged between 14 and 18 are more likely to carry meningococcal bacteria than any other age group and offering the ACWY vaccine to all of them should stop the bacteria from being passed on. This means that even unvaccinated people will be protected from catching the disease – an effect known as herd protection.

“Although we welcome the implementation of the ACWY vaccine amongst 14-18 year olds over the next couple of years, it will take time for herd protection to be established so babies (who are particularly vulnerable to developing disease) will remain unprotected. Fortunately, the MenB vaccine Bexsero, which will be routinely available for babies from September, also protects against this ST-11 MenW strain.”

21-year-old Sally Bound from Inverness contracted meningococcal meningitis while away from home at university. She said: “I was in my third of four years at uni and I was working late to meet a course deadline. I remember my housemate leaving for her boyfriend’s house at 8pm at which stage I started feeling really tired, achy and a bit nauseous – earlier in the week I had met a friend, who was recovering from flu for a drink so I was hoping I hadn’t caught his flu.

“I also wondered if it might be food poisoning but as I knew nothing about meningitis, other than seeing photos in doctor’s waiting rooms, it never crossed my mind it could be that – especially as I thought it was only young children who contracted meningitis.

“I went to bed about midnight feeling very sick and by 3am I was starting to get really worried that I was not very well, my arms and legs had gone very heavy and I felt as though I had a temperature. I rang my mum who was at home in Scotland, she suggested I called an ambulance but living on one of the most popular streets for students and having previously been called a bit of a drama queen I refused, too embarrassed I was causing a scene over the flu.

“Very quickly after that the sickness became worse and my head and neck began to ache. I contacted NHS direct and as instructed by them, I checked myself for a rash but didn’t find anything.

“However, I realised I needed to go to hospital and that being called a drama queen really was not that bad compared to how I was feeling.

“I have very little memory from there on but woke from a coma a day later so grateful to hear that I would be okay and discovering how lucky I had been as a couple of more hours without treatment could have made the outcome very different. After a few weeks I made a full recovery but I know that many university students have sadly not been so lucky.”