Vaccines for students
The NHS and University Health Service recommend that all students ensure they are up to date with their Meningitis ACWY and MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccinations.
It is important you are fully vaccinated when you start university. Try to get vaccinated a few weeks before you start, as immunity takes time to develop.
Make sure you have had:
- the MenACWY vaccine – which protects against serious infections like meningitis. You can still ask your GP for this vaccine until your 25th birthday.
- 2 doses of the MMR vaccine – as there are outbreaks of mumps and measles at universities. If you have not previously had 2 doses of MMR, you can still ask your GP for the vaccine.
- the HPV vaccine – which helps protect against genital warts and cancers caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV), such as cervical cancer.
Other vaccines are also given on the NHS throughout childhood. Visit the NHS Vaccinations webpage for more information.
You can still catch up on most vaccines if you think you have missed any. You may be able to confirm your vaccination status via the NHS App, or your parents/guardians may hold a record if these vaccines were administered during your school years. If you are unable to verify your records, please contact your registered GP Practice to find out if you are eligible. If you are registered with the University Health Service please submit an AccuRx request.
