- 11/08/2015
- Posted by: Mike Hedges MS
- Category: Press Releases
YOUNG PEOPLE URGED TO HAVE MENINGITIS VACCINE
Young people are being urged to have the meningitis ACWY vaccine, which is being introduced in Wales from Monday.
This is in response to an increasing number of cases of meningococcal group W disease in the UK.
Mike Hedges AM said … ‘welcome this initiative to increase the number of 13-18 yr olds who are taking up this vaccine. The evidence is that the number of cases of meningitis is increasing and this provides an opportunity to ensure that the maximum number of people are vaccinated as possible – I urge anyone who qualifies for the vaccine to take up the offer’
Based on advice from the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunization (JCVI) – the national body which advises governments about vaccination – the vaccine will replace the existing meningitis C vaccine, which is given to teenagers and people starting university.
From Monday, all students under 25 who are attending university for the first time this autumn will be eligible to receive the MenACWY vaccine. There will also be a catch-up Programme for all 13 to 18-year-olds.
The catch-up programme will begin with all young people with a date of birth between 1 September 1996 and 31 August 1997 who will be offered the vaccine by their GP. Younger people will be invited to have the vaccine either in school or by their GP over the next two years.
Young people going to university in September are urged to contact their GP surgery in order to organise the vaccination as soon as possible.
