Manx students heading to university in the UK this autumn will be offered meningitis B vaccines before starting their courses.<\/p>\n
The time-limited programme will see the two-dose MenB jabs offered to eligible Year 13 students and under-25s entering university or residential further education in September.<\/p>\n
The government said the roll-out was expected to start in July and would be offered to more than 700 Isle of Man students.<\/p>\n
It follows outbreaks of the potentially deadly virus in several parts of the UK earlier this year which prompted a similar roll-out<\/a>.<\/p>\n Hundreds of Manx students take up courses at universities in the UK each year.<\/p>\n Cabinet Office Minister David Ashford said the vaccine roll-out was “a precautionary measure rather than directly addressing an increase” seen either on the island itself or among Manx students.<\/p>\n ‘Preventable infection’<\/p>\n Ashford told MHKs: “Because of the limited outbreak in the UK, the UK has decided to roll this out to those starting this summer.<\/p>\n “We have decided to take a similar approach on island.”<\/p>\n However, he said the on-island programme “doesn’t mean that Isle of Man students can’t access the UK route for the vaccination as well”.<\/p>\n To reach full immunity, students need to receive two vaccinations at least four weeks apart.<\/p>\n “We also want to use this as an opportunity to remind students that meningitis B is not the only vaccine-preventable infection relevant to university life,” Ashford said.<\/p>\n “Students should check that they are up to date with their wider routine vaccinations including meningitis ICWY, measles, mumps and rubella, and human papillomavirus before they travel.”<\/p>\n Details of how eligible students can book appointments to get the jab will be confirmed by Manx Care once the start date for the programme has been confirmed.<\/p>\n Read more stories from the Isle of Man<\/a> on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer<\/a> and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook<\/a> and X<\/a>.<\/p>\n More on this storyRelated internet links