THERE are 7,000 young people in Gloucestershire who are eligible for an NHS vaccine which protects against the risk of getting meningitis.
NHS England is calling for all year 13 students and anyone under the age of 25 who is attending their first year of university to get the MenACWY vaccination now.
These groups of young people are at risk of developing the meningococcal diseases. The vaccination programme aims to prevent people being carriers of the meningococcal bacteria, which can live in the nose and throat.
It is particularly important for people entering university when they will be mixing closely with lots of new people, some of whom may unknowingly carry the meningococcal bacteria.
Meningitis (inflammation of the brain) and septicaemia (blood poisoning) disease can cause severe disability and even death. The MenACWY vaccine can protect against four meningococcal strains - A, C, W and Y.
The NHS urges people not to wait for a rash to develop and seek immediate medical help if someone is unwell and displays the symptoms of meningitis.
For further information visit NHS Choices at www.nhs.uk/Conditions/vaccinations/Pages/men-acwy-vaccine.aspx.
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