Meningitis outbreak

[Flipitoff]

I’m freaking out a bit

DD has been here all day after travelling from uni yesterday. Her housemate is really poorly and now I’ve just seen the news about the meningitis outbreak at her uni.

Her housemate is in the house on her own now - I’ve told DD to call the uni and let them know. Worried that DD has been here with us all day in case she gets sick

Some schools publicise it in sixth form prior to them going away.

Who else would you go to for medical advice, if not a medical person at your local surgery?

There’s a difference though between them saying the NGS doesn’t offer it and them actively discouraging you from getting it done privately. The latter would be very strange when then risks have been known for years.

See my question just above.

I’m not criticising you for asking the surgery and accepting their advice not to pay for it privately, I’m saying they should not be telling people not to get it done privately

It was the main story on the 10 o’clock news. You should be written to (check for an email maybe) with info as they want every student from two of the blocks to get antibiotics without delay.

I don't know what ds had tbh,he was just reminded by the school to get it before going to uni,I presume it was a booster. He's 25 now.

I agree

They do vaccinate for Men B but just babies on the schedule in their first year, it was only introduced July 2015 so there will be 11/12 year olds & older unvaccinated, unless done/paid for privately

A few weeks ago I was looking into the MenB vaccine privately- as DC1 missed out as born the year before & DC2 got it as born after 2015- I want them both to have protection

Really hoping that all those hospitalised will recover with as few complications as possible

I thought all (pre) university students were given this advice in the UK

I hope that your DD's housemate is okay and that your DD stays well

"Sixth formers (and all students under 25) are advised to get their Meningitis ACWY (MenACWY) vaccination before they start university or college, ideally at least two weeks before the beginning of the autumn term" Page last reviewed: 28 February 2024

https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/menacwy-vaccine

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/students-urged-to-protect-themselves-from-deadly-meningitis

My son is in third year at uni and I paid privately for 2 dose of the Men B vaccine in Superdrug in 2023 before he started in the Sepetember. I told the all my friends with kids in the same year starting uni at the same time they should consider it, but as far as I am aware, none did.

I knew about it anyway but I do also remember reading about it on some of the 'preparing for uni' guides from maybe ucas or student room or similar. Tucked away though and most thought they were full protected from the Men C vaccine they got at school.

Its scandalous really that we're letting kids die from a disease that there is a vaccine available for. If you Google it, there has been a spike of young deaths since late last year. Not known if Men C or B of course but why wouldn't you actively cover as much as you can?

Yes. You have to get the Men B vaccine. It costs around £220 (two separate shots)

This is for Men C, not Men B

Which uni?

You're right, I misread, Men B is a private vaccination, I feel your frustration and concern

Tge MenB vaccine doesn't cover all B strains: Bexsero is expected to cover approximately 68% to 88% of circulating Meningitis B strains in the UK.

University of Kent (Canterbury)

Though one victim was at a local sixth form grammar school apparently.

Thank you, so worrying isn't it.

I sometimes work at the uni im rather worried about this

Yes i got it in my thirties.
I was working a night shift and felt really ill, neck hurt, painfull in light, could barley walk.

I thought i had some really bad flu coming, left to go home early and got into bed.

My mum was staying at mine as she had broke her arm so she kept coming up to me asking me if I needed anything. I kept saying no just want to sleep.

I was so ill she called an ambulance.

Ended up having a lumber punch and treated for menagitis

I do belive if she hadn't been with me I wouldn't have been able to call anyone I just wanted to hide away from the light, feeling like death and wanting to sleep.

The pharmacist told me that you only need to have it done once and no booster is needed. Is what he said inaccurate? Thanks

Then you pay for the vaccine privately.

This may sound silly, but why not younger secondary school children, too? If the issue is the large amounts of group socialising that 6th formers and Uni students do, what about that of the year 8s for instance? My godchild in that year spends all of Saturday and Sunday in big groups (orchestra and rehearsals) and every evening after school is in a variety of clubs with lots of other children. Im just trying to get my head around what causes the additional risk, as I don’t want to raise it with her mum and worry her needlessly, but I’m worried now

Im confused, I paid for my dts to have this privately in 2015 when they were 4. 2 jabs. Do they need boosters? I didnt think they did.