Starting university? The meningitis vaccines you need and which the NHS gives

First-year students living in halls have one of the highest rates of meningococcal disease of any group, because they mix closely with people carrying strains they haven’t met. Two vaccines cover the strains that matter, and only one is routinely free.

MenACWY is given in school at 14 and to anyone under 25 who missed it, on the NHS — if you haven’t had it, ask your GP. Men B, the commonest strain in the UK, is only given to babies born from September 2015. Today’s students missed it entirely.

Men B vaccination is available privately at all our branches: Bexsero or Trumenba (from age 10), two doses. Ideally the first dose is a month or more before term starts. See the Men B vaccination page and who’s protected on the NHS and who isn’t.

Whether vaccinated or not, know the signs: fever with a rash that doesn’t fade under a glass, stiff neck, dislike of light, confusion or drowsiness. Any of those is 999. Students living together should look out for each other — a flatmate who is “just drunk” and can’t be woken needs checking.