Students urged to have meningitis vaccine
Three out of four first year university students in the United
Kingdom are now vaccinated
against meningitis group C,
according to a recent poll carried out by the Primary Care
Virology Group. The group is
disappointed by the results of
the poll and is now urging students to register with their university general practitioner.
The survey, randomly carried
out in 10 universities across
Britain, had 610 participants.
The results indicate that
although up to 91% of students
nationwide were aware of the
need to be vaccinated after a
high profile multimedia campaign run by the Department of
Health, only three quarters of
students who were asked had
actually been vaccinated.
Of the non-vaccinated students, about half cited that "they
hadn't got round to it" as a reason for not having the vaccine.
Seventy seven per cent of students, however, rated an infection with meningitis as "very
serious."
According to the survey, universities with a low rate of GP registration among students also recorded the lowest levels of
meningitis vaccination. Thirty
seven per cent of the surveyed
students at universities in London
had registered with a GP; of the
same students, 38% had received
a vaccination against meningitis.
In comparison, 91% of students
in Cardiff had registered with a
GP, and 90% of the same group
of students had received the
meningitis vaccination.
Around 40% of all cases of
meningococcal disease in the
United Kingdom are caused by
meningococcal group C strain.
The strain is much more likely
to affect people in the average
age range of students than the
other major strain of meningitis,
meningitis group B. The government urged university students in their first year to be
vaccinated against meningitis group C for the first time this
year - the current vaccine provides protection against infection with the strain for three to
five years.
"This evidence clearly shows
that students are aware of the
gravity of meningitis infection,
but worrying numbers have still
not received a vaccine," com-
mented Dr Nigel Higson, chair
of the Primary Care Virology
Group. He added: "This survey
recognises the pivotal role that
GPs play and suggests a need for
a campaign to increase student
GP registration to ensure they
receive adequate healthcare."
Andrew Pakes, president of
the National Union of Students,
also voiced his concerns. "The
NUS is obviously pleased that a
good number of students have
got around to getting their
meningitis vaccine. However, we
want to urge all students to take
advantage of the vaccination
programme. We have been
working closely with the relevant
organisations to continue promoting the vaccine; students
need to be reminded after the
first flush of publicity that they
can still seek protection from
meningitis."
Siān Knight, Nottingham
studentBMJ 2000;08:89-130 April ISSN 0966-6494
