HEALTH bosses are urging the 8,000 school leavers across the county to get vaccinated against meningitis.

NHS England has issued a rallying call to Year 13 students and anyone under 25 who is attending university to get vaccinated against the deadly infection.

The organisation estimates that there are more than 8,000 Year 13 students eligible for the free MenACWY vaccine which can protect against four meningococcal strains, A, C, W and Y.

It aims to prevent people becoming carriers of the meningococcal bacteria, which can live in the nose and throat. It is particularly important for people going to university where they will be mixing with new people, some of whom may be unknowing carriers of the bacteria.

NHS England’s head of public health Julie Hughes said the best time to get vaccinated is two weeks before the start of university.

She added: “MenACWY is a new vaccination programme which has been introduced in response to a rapidly growing increase in cases of the highly aggressive strain of meningococcal disease, group W.

“If 17 and 18 year olds in their last school year have not yet received a letter from their GP inviting them in for vaccination, I’d ask them to call their GP now.”

The nfection develops rapidly, with symptoms including headaches, vomiting, muscle pain and fever.

Visit NHS Choices www.nhs.uk/Conditions/vaccinations