Make sure you're protected against聽meningitis, measles and mumps聽- it's聽crucial that you get your vaccinations so that you can stay healthy and make the most of your time at BU.
Not only do these illnesses have the potential to ruin your learning experience, but in certain cases they can be life-threatening. Fortunately, you can easily protect yourself by booking a short appointment with your GP.
Which vaccines do you need?
There are two vaccines that you should make sure you have. The first is known as聽聽and will protect you against聽meningitis and septicaemia聽(meningococcal disease), which can be fatal. The vaccine is administered through one injection to the upper arm and is free to all students under the age of 25.
You should also confirm whether you have had your full dose of聽聽which protects against聽measles, mumps and rubella. Most are given this vaccination at two stages in their early childhood, first as a one-year-old and again at the age of three. However, in some cases people may be missing one or both doses and so if you are unsure you should check with your GP as a matter of urgency.
Check for symptoms
Early symptoms of meningitis or septicaemia sometimes feel similar to a bad hangover, for example headaches, tiredness and aversion to bright lights, which can lead to the illness going untreated among some students until it escalates further. Later symptoms include a blotchy rash, fever with cold hands and feet, aching muscles and joints, as well as severe vomiting and diarrhoea.聽 for your reference.
Measles聽begins with cold-like symptoms followed by a temperature and blotchy rash on the body, while聽mumps聽is recognised by painful swellings on the side of the face that can spread to the ovaries or testes. Check the聽聽for further advice and聽the NHS website for information about聽.
You鈥檝e worked hard to get into university. Don鈥檛 let an avoidable illness get in the way of your continued progress.
Contact a doctor
You can register at the聽Student Medical Centre聽on our Talbot Campus, or contact local GPs, including聽Talbot Medical Centre and Northbourne Surgery,聽who聽can also offer help and advice. If you would prefer聽a Medical Centre closer to home, you can view the聽full list of local GP surgeries on the聽. You can also check our聽contagious diseases聽page for more information.
Don鈥檛 assume it鈥檚 Covid
It is vital that you learn to recognise the to differentiate it from Covid-19 and other illnesses. If you feel unwell, call your GP or NHS 111 straight away if you are unsure. Meningitis is a medical emergency, so it is vital you act fast.
