Students are at increased risk of infectious diseases like meningitis, septicaemia, and measles, which can be severe and, in some cases, life threatening.

These diseases spread easily in universities and colleges, as students mix closely with others from around the country and overseas.

The new semester for Scottish universities and colleges is an important opportunity to remind students of free vaccinations provided by NHSScotland.

These vaccines are offered as part of the routine childhood immunisation schedule. However if they’ve been missed, it’s not too late to catch up. Ideally, they should be given at least two weeks before the new semester starts.

Students are 11 times more likely to develop invasive meningococcal disease, which causes meningitis and septicaemia. The meningitis ACWY (MenACWY) vaccine helps to protect against these very serious diseases. 

Parts of the UK and other countries in Europe have been seeing an increase in the number of people getting measles, and evidence suggests students are at higher risk. That’s why it’s important to check students have had two doses of the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps and rubella and has saved over 4,500 lives across the UK.

Find out more about vaccines for students on NHS inform.