Vaccinations

Keeping up to date with your vaccinations is one of the best ways to protect yourself and others while at university.

Students are at increased risk of some infections because they are meeting lots of new people and may be living in shared accommodation.

If you're under 25, you should check that you've had the MenACWY vaccine, which helps protect against four strains of meningococcal disease. If you're unsure, contact your GP or check your NHS App. If you haven't had the vaccine, contact your GP surgery to discuss vaccination.

New for 2026: NHS MenB vaccination programme

A temporary NHS MenB vaccination programme is available for eligible people, including many students starting university for the first time in Autumn 2026.

The MenB vaccine helps protect against meningococcal group B bacteria, a leading cause of meningitis and septicaemia in the UK. Eligible students should arrange vaccination as soon as possible.

Having both vaccines offers broader protection. MenACWY and MenB protect against different strains of meningococcal bacteria. For MenACWY, contact your GP. For MenB, see the information below about the 2026 programme.

Meningitis | MenB vaccine (2026 programme)

Meningococcal group B (MenB) bacteria can cause meningitis and septicaemia (blood poisoning). These are rare but serious and potentially life threatening illnesses that require urgent medical treatment.

Students living and socialising with lots of new people can be at increased risk. Getting two doses of the MenB vaccine before the Autumn term is one of the most important things students can do to protect themselves.

Who is eligible?

In England, people who are eligible for the temporary 2026 MenB programme includes:

Young people aged 17 or 18 born between 1 September 2007 and 31 August 2008
Students born on or after 21 July 2001 who are starting university as an undergraduate for the first time in Autumn 2026
Students born on or after 21 July 2001 who are moving into further education accommodation for the first time in Autumn 2026
International students who may not arrive in the UK until September, and those from the devolved nations and Crown Dependencies attending these settings in England

How is Meningitis B transmitted?

The bacteria that causes MenB can only be passed to others after a long period of close contact.

Examples include living with someone in shared accommodation, or through prolonged kissing or sharing vapes and drinks.

Why is getting the vaccine important?

First-year university students have a higher risk of meningococcal disease than young people of the same age who do not attend university.

Two doses of the MenB vaccine are needed for protection. The vaccine protects against most strains of MenB but does not protect against every cause of meningitis or septicaemia.

How do I get vaccinated?

You can get the MenB vaccine for free at a participating pharmacy if you:

Are aged 17 or 18, born between 1 September 2007 and 31 August 2008
Were born on or after 21 July 2001, and you are starting university as an undergraduate for the first time in Autumn 2026
Were born on or after 21 July 2001, and you are moving into further education accommodation for the first time in Autumn 2026

This includes international students, students from Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, and those travelling abroad to study. You do not need to be registered with a GP surgery to use this service.

Book your MenB vaccine at a pharmacy

For those who are not eligible under the current NHS offer, the MenB vaccine can be obtained privately. It is available from many travel clinics, pharmacies and some private GP practices.

Advice for international students

The MenB vaccine requires two doses, given at least four weeks apart. Good protection develops around two weeks after the second dose.

If the vaccine is available in your home country, you may wish to have your first dose before travelling to the UK. However, the vaccine is not readily available in all countries, and eligible students can receive both doses in the UK.

MenB vaccinations provided through the NHS programme are free for eligible students. See the eligibility information above for details.

Signs and symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia

Common symptoms include:

a high temperature (fever)
very cold hands and feet
a stiff neck
joint and muscle pain
a severe headache that is getting worse
eye pain when looking at bright lights
seizures (fits)
vomiting (being sick) and diarrhoea
confusion
being very sleepy or difficult to wake
spots or a rash that does not fade when pressed with a glass (this may be harder to see on brown or black skin)

Don't wait for a rash to appear before seeking help. It can be a late symptom or may not appear at all.

More information about meningitis and septicaemia can be found on the Meningitis Now website.

What should I do?

Call NHS 111 immediately if you or someone else develops symptoms that are rapidly getting worse.

Call 999 or go to the nearest hospital Accident and Emergency department if someone is seriously unwell or rapidly deteriorating.

Recommended vaccinations for students

These are some of the vaccinations available through the NHS, depending on your health history.

Meningococcal disease can be caused by different groups of bacteria. Having both the MenACWY and MenB vaccines offers broader protection.

If you're under 25 and starting university, check whether you've had the MenACWY vaccine. If you haven't, contact your GP.

A separate NHS MenB vaccination programme is available for eligible young people, including many students starting university for the first time in Autumn 2026.

For those who are not eligible under the current NHS offer, the MenB vaccine can be obtained privately. It is available from many travel clinics, pharmacies and some private GP practices.

MenACWY vaccine >

It is possible to pay privately for the vaccine if you are not eligible for it through the NHS and wish to be vaccinated.

The teenage booster, also known as the 3-in-1 or the Td/IPV vaccine, is given to boost protection against three separate diseases:

tetanus
diphtheria
polio

If you missed out at on the booster when you were at school, you can arrange a catch-up through your GP.

Td/IPV vaccine >

The HPV vaccine reduces your chances of getting human papillomavirus (HPV), a common virus that's spread through skin contact (usually when having sex). Some types of HPV are linked to an increased risk of certain types of cancer.

If you missed getting vaccinated when you were 12 or 13, the HPV vaccine is available for free on the NHS for:

all women under 25
men under 45 who have sex with men
other people at higher risk from HPV

Signs and symptoms of measles, mumps and rubella

Measles

Measles starts with cold-like symptoms and sore red eyes followed by a high temperature and a red-brown blotchy rash. If you experience these symptoms, call NHS 111.

Mumps

Mumps is recognised by the painful swellings at the side of the face under the ears. However more general symptoms often develop a few days before the face swells. These can include:

earache

joint pain
feeling sick
dry mouth
mild abdominal pain
feeling tired
loss of appetite
a high temperature (fever) of 38°C (100.4°F), or above

The flu vaccine helps protect against flu, which can be a serious or life-threatening illness. It's offered on the NHS every year in autumn or early winter to people at higher risk of getting seriously ill from flu.

Flu vaccine >

Getting help from the NHS

Health advice - NHS 111

Call 111 or visit 111.nhs.uk for health advice.

It's a free service that allows you to speak to NHS staff who can give you health advice or help find which service is best for you.

Illnesses and minor injuries

If you're in Portsmouth

The Urgent Treatment Centre and Minor Injury Unit at St Mary's Hospital, east of the University campus can help with minor illnesses and injuries

They can offer treatment, advice and information for incidents like minor head and eye wounds, treating sprains, strains and breaks to arms, lower legs and feet.

If you're in London

The A&E and Urgent Care Centre at Whipps Cross Hospital can help with minor illnesses and injuries.

They can offer treatment, advice and information for incidents like minor head and eye wounds, treating sprains, strains and breaks to arms, lower legs and feet.

Calling an ambulance

If you're in Portsmouth

If you or someone else has a serious or life-threatening injury or condition on campus, call 999.

If you are on campus in Portsmouth when calling 999 please also call Campus Security who will be able to offer assistance and arrange access for the ambulance crew. Call the Security Lodge through extension 3333 or +44 (0)23 9284 3333. You'll be asked:

The location, including the area or room in the building
The phone number you're calling from
What's happened?

The Security Lodge will dispatch caretakers and security to assist and arrange access for the ambulance crew.

If you're in London

If you or someone else has a serious or life-threatening injury or condition on campus, call 999. You'll be asked:

The location, including the area or room in the building
The phone number you're calling from
What's happened?

Life threatening emergencies

If you're in Portsmouth

If you need urgent medical treatment for a life threatening emergency, the local hospital in Portsmouth is Queen Alexandra Hospital ("QA Hospital") in the north of the city.

The Emergency Department at QA Hospital treats those with life-threatening emergencies, such as loss of consciousness, persistent or severe chest pain, breathing difficulties or severe bleeding that cannot be stopped.

If you're in London

If you need urgent medical treatment for a life threatening emergency, the local hospital in Walthamstow is Whipps Cross Hospital.

The Emergency Department at Whipps Cross Hospital treats those with life-threatening emergencies, such as loss of consciousness, persistent or severe chest pain, breathing difficulties or severe bleeding that cannot be stopped.