Flintshire students heading to university offered free meningitis B vaccine
Young people in Flintshire are being offered a free vaccine against meningococcal B disease ahead of the new academic year.
The programme was confirmed on Friday in a written statement by Nerys Evans MS, Deputy Minister for Public and Preventative Health, who described the outbreak among University of Kent students in March as the fastest growing MenB outbreak ever seen in the UK.
Smaller outbreaks have also been reported in Weymouth and Reading, and the same programme is being introduced across the other UK nations.
Anyone born between 1 September 2007 and 31 August 2008 is eligible, along with people under 25 who are starting university or residential further education for the first time this autumn, including international students.
Those aged 17 and 18 will receive an invitation letter from Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, with letters sent from 6 July.
First-time students will not receive a letter and should contact the health board after 20 July to find out where to get vaccinated, but are asked not to get in touch before then.
Students will need to show their university or college offer letter when they arrive for their appointment.
Nerys Evans said: “Whilst the risk to the general public remains low, the Kent outbreak was unusually large; the fastest growing MenB outbreak ever seen in the UK, and therefore it is sensible that we take steps to help protect the young people at highest immediate risk this year, ahead of the usual time of the year when more cases are reported.”
The vaccine, Bexsero, is already used in the routine childhood immunisation programme in the UK, where it has led to a 75 per cent reduction in MenB disease in vaccinated groups since 2015.
It is given in two doses, four weeks apart, and it takes two weeks after the second dose for the body to build a good level of protection.
Public Health Wales is encouraging eligible young people to have both doses before leaving for university.
Teenagers in Wales are already offered the MenACWY vaccine in year 9, which protects against four other types of meningococcal disease, but it does not cover MenB.
Dr Christopher Johnson, Head of the Vaccine Preventable Disease Programme at Public Health Wales, said: “Young people heading to university for the first time are at an elevated risk of Meningitis B, as they mix with new groups of people while enjoying their new environment. Having two doses of this vaccination, ideally before they depart for university, will give them the best protection against this infection, which can cause such serious illness.”
MenB is the most common cause of invasive meningococcal disease in the UK and can cause meningitis and sepsis, both of which can become life threatening very rapidly.
The Welsh Government said clusters usually occur where young people live in close proximity and mix closely, such as university halls.
Signs to look out for include headache, vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle pain, stomach cramps and fever with cold hands and feet.
Further details on eligibility and how the programme will operate will be set out in a Welsh Health Circular, the formal guidance document sent to health boards.
The programme runs from July until December 2026.
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