Meningitis B vaccine push as county uptake 'low'

A health boss has urged young people to get vaccinated against meningitis B vaccine, as uptake in Shropshire is low.

The jab is being offered to 17 and 18-year-olds in sixth form and students under the age of 25 who are heading to a residential college or university this autumn for the first time.

It comes after concerns over the UK's largest and fastest growing outbreak that happened in Kent earlier this year. The infection can cause serious, life-threatening problems.

"We think there's just over 700 people who taken up the offer in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, but it's early days," said Vanessa Whatley, chief nursing officer for NHS Shropshire Telford and Wrekin.

The call to encourage young people to get the vaccine is ahead of most freshers' weeks starting in September.

"We're really keen to encourage people to take this offer up," said Whatley.

"It will help prevent outbreaks going forward... when you do get it, it's very nasty."

She also urged people to encourage those in their families to get the jab.

"Even if it's not you going to university or to residential college, if you know somebody that's under 25 that is going to one of those institutions... just ask them if they've been vaccinated.

"It's really easy, you can just pop into your pharmacy."

MenB infection can cause inflammation of the lining of the brain (meningitis) and blood poisoning (sepsis).

It can lead to life-changing disabilities such as amputations, hearing loss and brain damage, and in some cases can be fatal.

Meningitis infections can be spread through close contact - for example through kissing, sharing vapes and drinks or living in close quarters with a person with the bug.

Students in their first year of university have a risk that is about seven times higher than that of young people of a similar age who do not go to university, says NHS England.

The free vaccine is given as two doses and at least 28 days apart, and young people are encouraged to get both doses before they head off to university or residential college.

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