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Students ‘risking their lives’ by not getting meningitis vaccine

Tens of thousands still missing out on getting protection despite recent deaths and a GP-catch up scheme in place for over 3 years

University students are risking their lives by not getting a vaccine that protects them against meningitis and septicaemia, senior public health officials have told i.

The NHS says that as cases of meningitis and blood poisoning caused by a highly virulent strain of MenW bacteria have been rising over the last decade, all teenagers and students should have the meningococcal ACWY (MenACWY) vaccination.

Most at risk are older teenagers and students who missed out on the new vaccine in 2015 when it was first introduced to pupils aged 13 to 14 years old. Anyone born between September 1996 and August 1999 was offered the vaccine through a GP-based urgent catch-up campaign, but tens of thousands are still missing out.

The warning comes after the death of Abigail Harris, a 23-year-old estate agent from Cheltenham who did not know that she was eligible under the scheme for the vaccine that could have saved her life according to her family. Tim Mason, a 21-year-old trainee electrical engineer, should also have had the vaccine under the catch-up scheme but a series of clerical errors meant he missed out. He died last year from meningitis after being wrongly diagnosed and sent home from hospital before falling gravely ill.

In England the average catch-up rate for the vaccine remains below 40 per cent, although Public Health England (PHE) said it is improving. Last year, almost 30 per cent of pupils in England still left school unvaccinated despite the introduction of MenACWY in the adolescent schools vaccination programme four years ago. The Department of Health has promised a “fundamental review”, led by NHS England, to see how the vaccine uptake can be increased.

Taking action

Tim Mason died after being wrongly diagnosed and a series of clerical errors (Photo: Mason family)
Tim Mason died after being wrongly diagnosed and a series of clerical errors (Photo: Mason family)

In a letter this month to the head of the Meningitis Research Foundation, seen by i, Health Minister Seema Kennedy wrote: “We share your concerns about low uptake of the MenACWY vaccine among those born between 1 September 1996 and 31 August 1999, and have made sure that action is underway to improve this… We have liaised with NHS England and Public Health England to see what else can be done. As highlighted in the recent GP contract, there will now be a fundamental review, led by NHS England, to see how vaccine uptake can be increased.”

Latest figures show that the catch-up immunisation uptake for those in Wales is still only 42 per cent, dropping to as low as 35 per cent in some areas. Dr Richard Roberts, head of the vaccine preventable disease programme at Public Health Wales, said: “Cases of meningitis and septicaemia due to Men W disease have been increasing year-on-year in England and Wales.

“Vaccination is offered to all school children in Year 9, and uptake is over 80 per cent, but this means that a fifth of children miss getting protected. In older age groups, uptake of the MenACWY vaccine is as low as 34.7 per cent. This means many young people remain at risk from the disease.

“If you’re in school or the first year of university and missed the MenACWY vaccination – get vaccinated as soon as possible – ask at your GP surgery. It’s vital that those going to university this autumn are not complacent about the threat of meningitis – I urge them to take up this lifesaving vaccine before they go.”

The single dose vaccine, called Nimenrix, protects against four different strains of the meningococcal bacteria that cause meningitis and septicaemia. Students were targeted first as the bacteria, carried naturally by some people, spread easily in university halls, where large groups of young people were living in close proximity.

‘Positive impact’

In England, coverage for those born between September 1996 and August 1999 is less than 40 per cent. Dr Mary Ramsay, Head of Immunisations at PHE said: “We work closely with the NHS to ensure that all eligible teenagers are made aware of the MenACWY vaccine through a variety of direct and public communications.

“There has been good uptake in young people offered the vaccine at school and 71 per cent of school-leavers in 2018 had been vaccinated. The combination of modest uptake in previous school-leavers and high coverage in the school-based programme is having a positive impact. Cases of MenW have continued to fall – with cases decreasing by 14 per cent between 2016/2017 and 2017/2018.

“Individuals remain eligible for the vaccine at their GP until the age of 25. We urge every eligible young person who remains unvaccinated to take up the offer.”

Officials in Scotland said that due to the success of the vaccine programme offered to all 14-18 year olds during 2015/16, the majority of Scottish entrants to university will have already been immunised. Last year, the MenACWY vaccine uptake remained at 81.9 per cent per cent – a similar level to previous years. Northern Ireland has an uptake of 77 and 85 per cent for year 11 and 12 pupils respectively.

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