It follows concerns over the UK’s largest and fastest growing outbreak at a university in England earlier this year, in which two people died<\/a>.<\/p>\n The PHA’s Senior Commissioning Lead for Immunisations, Rachel Spiers, said MenB is rare but the consequences are “very serious and potentially fatal”.<\/p>\n “What I would say to students is that when you’re preparing to go to university, put this on your checklist along with getting your laptop, getting your textbooks and booking your accommodation,” she said.<\/p>\n MenB is a serious bacterial infection which can cause illnesses like meningitis – inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord – or blood poisoning (sepsis).<\/p>\n It can lead to life-changing disabilities, including hearing loss, brain damage or amputations.<\/p>\n Who can get the vaccine?<\/p>\n The two-dose jab is being offered to anyone born between 2 July 2007 and 1 July 2008 – or pupils who have just finished Year 14.<\/p>\n It’s also being offered to anyone under the age of 25, those who were born on or after 21 July 2001 and are starting university or a further education college for the first time in September.<\/p>\n This also includes international students.<\/p>\n Spiers said this group was being targeted as they are “seven times more likely to be at risk” from MenB as they will be “mixing with large groups of new people for the first time”.<\/p>\n “Whenever students are going out socialising, enjoying themselves and taking part in social activities, that might put them at higher risk of MenB,” she added.<\/p>\n The rollout is similar to those in England, Scotland and Wales following the deaths of two young people – a university student and a sixth form pupil – from an outbreak in Kent.<\/a><\/p>\n “We don’t want to see this happen to any of our young people in Northern Ireland which is why we’re rolling out the vaccination programme,” Spiers said.<\/p>\n “That’s why it’s really important and we’re really encouraging everybody to come forward to be vaccinated because two doses of the MenB vaccine is the best way to possibly protect yourself.”<\/p>\n Where can I get the MenB vaccine?<\/p>\n Anyone eligible for the vaccines can get them from their GP practice or a community pharmacy.<\/p>\n
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