Talented Derry footballer Aaron Devlin after a six day battle against meningitis
SCHOOL leavers and first-time university students are being urged to get a new meningococcal meningitis vaccine.
The new jab is available from today, Monday, August 3.
The availability of the new vaccine comes the day after Derry and Ballinderry GAA player Aaron Devlin was laid to rest.
The 23-year-old tragically died six days after being struck down with a virulent form of meningitis which ravaged his brain.
Everyone born between 2 July 1996 and 1 July 1997, and first time university students up to the age of 25, are being offered the Men ACWY vaccine.
GP practices are to invite people born between those dates to get the vaccine.
It helps protect against four different causes of meningitis and septicaemia – meningococcal A, C, W and Y diseases.
From January, the vaccination will also start to be rolled out to all 14-18-year-olds through the schools immunisation programme and GPs.
Dr Lucy Jessop of the Public Health Agency said: “Older teenagers are at higher risk of getting meningococcal W disease, so you need to get vaccinated to help protect yourself. It will also reduce the risk of you carrying the bacteria, therefore also protecting those around you.
“Older teenagers and those starting university for the first time usually mix with larger groups of people, making them more exposed to various infections or diseases.
“The best way to protect against meningococcal A, C, W, or Y disease is to get the vaccine before starting university.”
Health Minister Simon Hamilton added: “Even if you have recently had the meningococcal C vaccine, for example in school, you should still get the Men ACWY vaccine.
“It will increase your protection against meningococcal C and provide protection against the three other meningococcal groups.”
Meningococcal bacteria can cause meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain) and septicaemia (blood poisoning). Both diseases, if not diagnosed early, can kill.
The early symptoms of meningococcal disease are similar to those of flu.
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