“We need to keep shouting about the availability of this vaccination until everyone eligible for it is aware and takes advantage of it.”
We’re urging young people to take up a free vaccination to help protect themselves and their friends from meningitis as the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for England releases figures on uptake for the 2023-24 academic year.
The figures show that the level of uptake of the MenACWY vaccination for the year was overall up slightly on the previous year, but still significantly lower than before the COVID pandemic struck.
The vaccination for MenACWY is given to students in years 9 and 10 each year.
Dr Tom Nutt, our chief executive, commented: “It’s good to see these figures moving in the right direction.
Jolt people into action
“But there’s still a long way to go and we need to jolt people into action and encourage them to get their jabs – we shouldn’t become complacent where meningitis is concerned.
“We need to keep shouting about the availability of this vaccination until everyone eligible for it is aware and takes advantage of it. Vaccination is by far the best way to protect yourself, your family and your friends from this devastating disease.”
The figures, published in Meningococcal ACWY (MenACWY) vaccine coverage for adolescents in England, academic year 2023 to 2024, show that overall 72.1% of year 9 students received the vaccination, 3.5 percentage points higher than in the previous year.
For year 10 students the figure was 73.0%, 0.4 percentage points lower than the previous year.
Both figures are significantly lower than pre-COVID vaccination levels of around 80.8%.
Significant variations
The figures also mask significant variations between areas of the country, with the lowest averages in London (64.1%) and the highest in the South-east (79.9%) for year 10 students. Local authority coverage ranged from 31.9% in Brent to 97.7% in Rochdale.
Dr Nutt added: “Research has shown that up to a quarter of 15 to 24-year-olds carry the bacteria that cause meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia in the back of their throats, compared to one in 10 of the general population.
“I would urge everybody to take advantage of the MenACWY vaccination when it is offered – we know vaccination is the best way to protect yourself against the devastation that meningitis can bring.
Know the signs and symptoms
“But, with no vaccination programme available to protect against all types of meningitis we’re also urging parents and students to learn the signs and symptoms of this disease and to seek urgent medical attention if meningitis is suspected.”
These early signs and symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia can be similar to ‘flu, tummy bug or a hangover and include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle pain and stomach cramps.
More specific signs and symptoms include fever with cold hands and feet, drowsiness, confusion, pale blotchy skin, stiff neck, dislike of bright lights and a rash which doesn’t fade under pressure.
The MenACWY meningitis vaccine replaced the MenC vaccine for children in school from Autumn 2015. It is offered around 14 years of age. For anyone who missed their MenACWY vaccination in school, it is available for young people up to the age of 25 via their GP Practice.
