We have launched #StoptheSpread to encourage all students starting university in September and young people at secondary school to make sure they are protected against this deadly strain of meningitis and septicaemia.

“GP practices will be inviting people born between 2 July 1996 and 1 July 1997 to have the Men ACWY vaccine”.

Health Specialist, Programme Division, UNICEF, Dr. Imran Mirza, said: “We have had preliminary discussions with vaccine manufacturers and impressed upon them the need to produce a stockpile of five million doses of vaccine so as to be ready for flare-ups of the disease next year in Africa, but so far they haven’t yet revised their production plans to meet demand”.

Welcoming the roll-out of the vaccine, Health Minister Simon Hamilton said: “This vaccination helps protect against four different causes of meningitis and septicaemia – meningococcal A, C, W and Y diseases”.

“You can arrange this through your GP and it is really important to have it before you start university, if possible, and if not, to have it in the first week of term”.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation announced the vaccination programme in June because cases of “MenW” had increased from 22 cases in 2009 to 117 in 2014.

“The PHA is also encouraging everyone starting university for the first time, up to the age of 25, to get the vaccine”.

The disease develops rapidly and early symptoms can include headache, vomiting, muscle pain and fever, with cold hands and feet. Using our meningococcal genome library, scientists at Public Health England found that nearly all of the increase in MenW disease is due to a particularly virulent type of meningococcal bacteria called ST-11. “Be aware of all signs and symptoms and trust your instincts – don’t wait for a rash to develop before seeking urgent medical attention”, she added. For decades meningococcal B has caused most cases of the disease in the UK, and meningococcal C was also common until the MenC vaccine was introduced, reducing cases to just a handful each year.

Nurses will be helping deliver a new vaccination programme aimed at teenagers from today in England, Wales and Scotland. Although we welcome the implementation of the ACWY vaccine amongst 14-18 year olds over the next couple of years, it will take time for herd protection to be established so babies (who are particularly vulnerable to developing disease) will remain unprotected. “We are ensuring it is made available in Northern Ireland now, despite the extremely challenging financial position”, he said.