Meningitis is a life-threatening disease that can affect anyone, but young people and students are at particularly high risk. A free MenACWY vaccine is available to first year students up to the age of 25 through their GP. This vaccine and knowing the symptoms of meningitis is the best protection against this devastating disease, which can resemble the flu or a hangover and so is often ignored until it’s too late.
The symptoms can include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle pain, stomach cramps and fever with cold hands and feet. Other symptoms include drowsiness, pale, blotchy skin, dislike of bright lights and a rash that doesn’t fade under pressure.
Students in shared accommodation and those travelling and at festivals are particularly vulnerable, and so Meningitis Now is calling on all eligible young people to get vaccinated before heading off to uni or as early as possible once registered with their new university GP.
For more information visit – www.meningitisnow.org/students
Check it, don’t chance it. It could save your life.