Importance of teenage meningitis awareness

Meningitis Signs and Symptoms

UK charity Meningitis Now has stressed the importance of teenage meningitis awareness.

Meningitis Now has stressed the need to ensure that teenagers, particularly those intending to go to university this September, have had the Men ACWY jab and that they recognise that this does not protect them against all strains of the disease, particularly Men B, which they are very unlikely to have been protected against.

For clarity, the Men ACWY vaccine programme has been offered in schools since Autumn 2015 to those around 14 years of age. It was also offered to 17 and 18-year-olds in a three year catch up programme and continues to be offered to new university entrants up to the age of 25.

Dr Tom Nutt, chief executive of Meningitis Now, said: “The reality is that whilst many young people going to university in the autumn will have been vaccinated against Men ACWY, not all young people will have received this – we’d urge all parents to make sure their children are up to date with their vaccinations, especially those hoping to head off to university this autumn.

“It is also important to remember that the Men ACWY vaccine will not protect against all causes of meningitis, especially the Men B strain of the disease, which causes more cases in the UK and for which, the majority of teenagers will not have been vaccinated against.

“Given this fact I would urge both parents and young people to learn the signs and symptoms of meningitis and act fast if they suspect it, because vaccinations alone will not protect them against every cause of the disease,” Tom added.

Teenagers are the second most at risk group of contracting meningitis after babies and toddlers and up to a quarter of students carry the bacteria that can cause the disease, compared with one in ten of the general population.