Many university students are not vaccinated against meningitis C, despite Department of Health program

Editor - Neal et al¹ report that carriage rates of meningococci among new university students increase rapidly during the first term, especially during the first week. They conclude that the rapid rate of acquisition may explain the increased risk of invasive meningococcal disease in this group. More than 40% of meningitis cases in the UK are from meningococcal C disease, and the mortality is high in this group.

The Department of Health has recognised meningococcal disease as a significant cause of mortality and morbidity in the UK. It has recently campaigned to raise awareness about meningitis, and has implemented a vaccination programme using the newly available conjugate vaccine for meningitis C.²

However, Knight³ reported a recent poll by the Primary Care Virology Group, which found that while 91% of students were aware of the need to be vaccinated, only 75% had received the new vaccine. Universities with the lowest rate of general practitioner registration also recorded the lowest rates of vaccination.

In a recent cross sectional questionnaire at Guy's, King's, and St Thomas' School of Medicine, we evaluated awareness about meningitis and the recent DoH campaign, and the uptake of the new vaccine in 102 first year medical students. All respondents recognised that meningitis was life threatening, and 95% had heard of the DoH campaign. Their main sources of information were posters and television advertising. However, only 56% reported having been offered the new vaccine with less than 50% overall receiving it.

Currently, occupational health at Guy's, King's, and St Thomas' School of Medicine does not offer the new meningitis C vaccine to students. Although many incoming students may now be vaccinated under the Department of Health's own vaccination programme for 15-17 year olds, perhaps, in the light of recent evidence of the increased acquisition of the Neisseria meningitidis bacteria, occupational health departments should review their policy.

We would suggest that occupational health departments, in conjunction with university registries, should encourage incoming students who have not been included in the DoH programme to be vaccinated by their general practitioner prior to attendance, and offer vaccination upon registration to any remaining new students who arrive unvaccinated.

Louise Bennett, Clara Sisnett, Robert Loveridge, Mamun Al-Rashid, fourth year medical students, Guy's, King's, and St Thomas' School of Medicine, London SE1 1UL


studentBMJ 2000;08:217-258 July ISSN 0966-6494

1. Neal et al. Changing carriage rate of Neisseria meninitidis among university students during the first week of term: cross sectional study. studentBMJ 2000;8:155-8.
2. Wise J. UK introduces new meningitis C vaccine. BMJ 1999;319:278.
3. Knight S. Students urged to have meningitis vaccine. studentBMJ 2000;8:95