15/03/2026
Students: Have you checked your meningitis vaccination status?
The news about a meningitis outbreak affecting university students is a reminder of how important it is for young people to ensure their vaccinations are up to date.
Meningitis is a serious infection that affects the lining of the brain and spinal cord and can develop very quickly. Early symptoms can sometimes be mistaken for flu, freshers’ flu, or even a hangover, which is why awareness is so important for students living and socialising closely together.
🎓 If you are heading to university, college, or living in student accommodation:
• Check your vaccination record on the NHS App
• Make sure you have had the MenACWY vaccine, which protects against four types of meningococcal bacteria
• If you’re under 25 and missed the vaccine at school, you can still get it free through your GP practice.
Students are particularly encouraged to have the MenACWY vaccine before starting university because close living conditions increase the risk of meningitis spreading.
💡 Not sure if you’ve had it?
Check the NHS App or contact the surgery and we can advise you.
⚠️ Seek urgent medical help if you or someone you know develops symptoms such as:
• High fever
• Severe headache
• Vomiting
• Sensitivity to light
• Neck stiffness
• A rash that does not fade when pressed
Protecting yourself also helps protect your friends and the wider student community.
For more information:
NHS – Meningitis: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/meningitis/
Eleven people in the Canterbury area are also seriously ill in hospital, the BBC understands.
