A: Full-time students due to start higher or further education this autumn will be offered the currently available meningococcal vaccine (AC Vax or Mengivac A+C) before they go to university or college. Those in their first few weeks of their first term and who live in halls of residence are the students at highest risk from the disease.

A: The new conjugate vaccine won’t be available in time for students to be immunised before starting university or college, in time to protect them during what is the greatest risk period for them.

A: The currently available vaccine should be offered to all full-time students in their first year. Any student who arrives at university or college without having been immunised should ask for meningococcal Group C immunisation either through the GP with whom they are registered or through student health services at the university or college. There will be arrangements in place for such students.

A: The currently available vaccine should be offered to all full-time students starting higher or further education irrespective of where they live. Those in halls of residence are the students at highest risk.

A: There is no need for part-time students, especially those who only attend one or two days a week, to be immunised. However, doctors will use their discretion in individual cases depending on the risk to that person.

A: Young people attending higher or further education for the first time, especially those living in halls of residence, are at higher risk of meningococcal disease. These people are being prioritised and the presently available vaccine is recommended for them.

A: There is no evidence to suggest that they are at a significantly higher risk than any other members of the population; this includes staff who work in halls of residence (eg catering or cleaning staff).

A: This will depend on availability. The currently available vaccine remains suitable for use in outbreaks and should be used until supplies of the new conjugate vaccine mean we can use that instead.

A: First year students who have had the currently available vaccine in the past may need to be immunised again. This will depend on how long ago they had the earlier immunisation (see page 6).

A: Full-time first year students should be immunised by their GPs before going to university or college. Those first year students who arrive at university or college without having been immunised should ask for meningococcal Group C immunisation either through the GP with whom they are registered or through student health services at the university or college.

A: Towards the end of August a letter will be sent to all those who have been offered first year places this year in institutes of higher and further education, advising them to contact their GP to arrange to have the existing meningitis C vaccine. Some universities or colleges will be writing out directly to students before this mailshot, explaining the vaccine recommendation.

A: First year students need to think about arranging with their GP to have the vaccine before they go to university or college. They will get a letter towards the end of August advising them to contact their GP about this and enclosing a leaflet.

A: Full-time first year students who arrive at university or college without having been immunised should ask for meningococcal Group C immunisation either through the GP with whom they are registered or through student health services at the university or college.

A: Letters will be sent to students advising them to contact their GP to arrange immunisation before going to college. GPs will need to have a system in place for setting up appointments for first year students when they ask for the vaccine (see below for information on vaccine supply).

A: It is preferable for students to have the currently available vaccine before they go to university or college, but this will not happen in all cases. Some groups of students (such as overseas students) will not have the opportunity and other students will miss out for various reasons. Universities or colleges should liaise with the local Health Board Immunisation Co-ordinator to have the vaccine available to first year students who have not already had it before they arrive.

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A: The currently existing vaccine (AC Vax or Mengivac A+C) will be centrally purchased by the Health Department and distributed to GPs, health centres and university health services through those NHS Trust Pharmacy Departments which have responsibility for suplying vaccines for the childhood immunisation programme. The vaccine will be supplied in this way only for full-time first year students.

A: It may be difficult for GPs to assess the amount of vaccine they will need to immunise first year students at the moment. Letters will be sent to all full-time first year students towards the end of August advising them to contact their GP. At this stage GPs should place orders for students who have confirmed they want to have the vaccine. Delivery of the vaccine will begin in early September and it will continue to be available to GPs throughout September as students confirm appointments with them.

A: The currently existing vaccine (AC Vax or Mengivac A+C) will still be recommended for people travelling to high risk countries (for example the meningococcal belt of Africa). Vaccine required for travel immunisation should be prescribed in the usual way on a GP10.

A: The currently existing vaccine will be centrally purchased by the Health Department and distributed free of charge for full-time first year students. Universities or colleges should liaise with the local Health Board Immunisation Co-ordinator to assess the expected vaccine requirements, bearing in mind that first year students will be advised to contact their GP before coming to university or college. Vaccine for students who need to be immunised through universities or colleges will be supplied free of charge to GPs, health centres or university health services. Deliveries can begin in September.

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A: Yes. The Department of Health is proposing to the profession that GPs get an item of service payment - that is, a payment for each vaccination given to the target group. Further details will be sent to the NHS once they have been finalised.

A: No. The Department of Health will centrally purchase and supply the currently available vaccine free of charge for this group of students (but only for non-travel use).

(See also the chapter in the UK Health Departments’ memorandum ‘Immunisation against Infectious Disease’)

A: Yes.

A: The currently available vaccine gives protection against meningococcal Group A and C diseases. It does not give protection against infection due to other groups of meningococcal disease such as Group B, or meningitis due to other organisms

A: Yes. This vaccine is also recommended for people travelling to areas where meningococcal disease is epidemic or highly endemic. It is also recommended in epidemic situations and for close contacts of subjects developing the disease.

A: No. This vaccine does not contain any live organisms.

A: One dose of vaccine will provide protective antibodies in more than 90% of adults and older children; these develop within 2-3 weeks of immunisation.

A: No. It is known that young children and infants do not respond as well to the currently available vaccine as older children and adults. This is particularly important in infants under 18 months where the response to the Group C antigen is poor.

A: This depends on the age of the individual. In adults and children over 5 years of age immunity will last between 3 and 5 years. (In younger children, particularly those aged 2 and below, immunity specific to Group C disease may not develop, but if it does, it is unlikely to last for more than 1-2 years.)

A: Adverse effects are normally mild and short-lasting. Local reactions such as redness, swelling and tenderness or pain at the site of the injection may occur. Generalised reactions such as pyrexia and chills may also occur but less commonly. Pyrexia may occur more frequently in young children. Rarely, an anaphylactic reaction may occur.

A: Immunisation should be deferred in people who have a febrile illness, or who have had a severe reaction to a previous dose of this vaccine, or any of the constituents of this vaccine.

A: Although there is no evidence to suggest that the currently available vaccine is not safe in pregnancy, it should not be given unless there is a definite risk of the individual developing group A or C meningococcal disease. Similarly, it is not routinely recommended in women breastfeeding. However, the vaccine is not live and there is no evidence that it causes harm in either of these situations. These precautions are given because there is a lack of data on safety in these specific circumstances.

A: As the currently available vaccine is not a live vaccine, it can be given to people who are immunocompromised but they may not make a full immune response that protects against A and C meningococcal disease.

A: Yes, it can be given to people who are HIV positive as long as none of the above contra-indications apply.

A: No, it is most unlikely there will be any interaction.

A: Yes, as long the person didn’t have a severe reaction to the previous dose of this vaccine. (Also see the 3 Q&A following.)

A: First year students who had the vaccine less than three years ago don’t need to have it again before going to university or college this year.

A: Yes, students can be re-vaccinated with the conjugate meningococcal Group C vaccine if they need it in the future (eg as a contact of a case).

A: The conjugate vaccine is effective and can be given as soon as 6 months after receiving the currently available vaccine.

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A: The Health Education Board for Scotland (HEBS) is currently preparing a new leaflet for students about the use of the currently available vaccine. It is planned that this will be sent to all first year students with a letter. HEBS will also be sending support materials to all GP surgeries. These resources will be available free of charge.

A: The existing vaccine can’t promise 100% protection against Group C disease and it offers no protection at all against Group B disease. Students should still look out for the symptoms of meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia.

A: Yes, this is very important. Students and health professionals still need to be aware of the signs and symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia.

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