Reminder: Check your vaccinations are up to date

Vaccinations

Students are being encouraged to make sure their vaccinations are up to date for measles, mumps, rubella and meningitis.

There are two recommended vaccinations for University students:

  1. Meningococcal ACWY (Meningitis ACWY) immunisation
  2. Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) immunisation

Most students have been vaccinated as part of the UK schools programme. However, if you have not been vaccinated against mumps, measles and rubella, or meningitis, or you are not sure, it is important you contact your GP and arrange to receive the vaccines.

Meningitis ACWY vaccination

Meningitis and septicaemia (blood poisoning) are rare but life-threatening diseases. They are caused by several groups of meningococcal bacteria – the most common types are A, B, C, W and Y.

Having the MenACWY vaccine in addition to the MenC vaccine, which many people received in childhood, will not only give you better protection against MenC infection but will also protect you against the other three meningococcal groups (A, W and Y).

A free MenACWY vaccination is available for any unprotected individual under 25 years of age.

Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccination

Measles, mumps and rubella are highly infectious conditions that can have serious and potentially fatal complications.

The MMR is a safe and effective combined vaccine that protects against all three separate illnesses. It is administered in a single injection, requiring two doses at least 4 weeks apart. Most students will have received one MMR immunisation as a child but may not have had the second booster.

Widespread vaccination protects, not just the individual, but also those who are unable to receive the vaccine because of a weakened immune system, by avoiding the spread of the conditions.

It is strongly advised that students who have not previously had TWO doses of the MMR vaccine, or who are not sure, to contact their GP as soon as possible to arrange to have the free vaccination.

How to get vaccinations

Visit your usual GP or contact Brownlow Health. If you haven’t registered with a GP in Liverpool yet, make sure you contact Brownlow Health by visiting the practice or calling 0151 285 4578 as soon as possible to register. If you are eligible, you will be able to have the vaccinations free of charge.