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Meningitis ACWY Vaccine

The MenACWY vaccine is usually given as part of the routine vaccination schedule at school, protecting against four strains of the meningococcal bacteria.

What Is The MenACWY Vaccine?

The MenACWY vaccine protects against serious infections like meningitis caused by our strains of the meningococcal bacteria – A, C, W and Y. It is routinely offered to teenagers when they’re at school in years 9 and 10 (between the ages of 13 and 15), but if you’re unsure if you’ve had it and are going to university it’s important to check that your vaccinations are up to date (as well as for the MMR vaccine). The MenACWY vaccine is called Nimenrix and is administered as a single injection in the upper arm, protecting against meningitis and blood poisoning (also known as septicaemia).

What Is Meningococcal Disease?

Meningococcal disease (meningitis and septicaemia) is rare but can be life-threatening, caused by different strains of meningococcal bacteria. New university students and older teenagers are at higher risk of contracting these infections because they inevitably spend a lot of time with large groups of new people, who may carry the bacteria at the back of their nose and throat without knowing it. Both meningitis and septicaemia can cause sepsis, which is a life-threatening response to infection. Not that although these diseases are rare they are very serious and will require urgent hospital treatment. Without treatment, they can lead to hearing loss, brain damage and amputations. Symptoms of meningococcal disease include:

Headache
Vomiting
A stiff neck
A high temperature
Cold hands and feet
Muscle and joint pain
Drowsiness
Difficulty waking up

A rash can also appear, almost resembling a purple bruise. It will not fade under pressure and a common test to assess symptoms is to press a glass against the rash in question to see if it fades or not.

How Effective Is The MenACWY Vaccine?

The vaccine provides very effective protection against these diseases, containing the sugar coating that can be found on all four types of the bacteria. When the vaccine is administered, the body’s immune system is triggered into developing antibodies that fight against these coatings without causing infections and disease. As with any vaccination, there is a risk of side-effects but these are usually mild and should pass quickly within 24 hours. Possible side-effects include:

Headache
Nausea
Fatigue
Redness, hardening and itching at the injection site

A small painless lump can sometimes develop at the injection site as well, but this typically disappears within a few weeks. At Enimed Group, our pharmacies provide a range of different vaccinations, including the MenACWY vaccine. Our specialist pharmacists can administer the appropriate treatments to both teenagers and adults alike, as well as providing a walk-in clinic service and up-to-date health advice for a range of different conditions.

How To Prevent MMR Infections

The best way to prevent measles, mumps and rubella is to have the MMR vaccine, which is a safe and effective combined form of treatment. It is routinely given to babies and young children as part of the vaccination schedule, with the first dose administered at 12 months and the second at three years and four months. Both doses are necessary to ensure full protection. There is no evidence that the MMR vaccine causes autism, with many studies having been carried out over the years investigating this claim. At Enimed Group, our pharmacies provide a range of different vaccinations, including the MMR vaccine. Our specialist travel pharmacists can administer the appropriate treatments to both children (from birth) and adults alike, as well as providing a walk-in clinic service and up-to-date health advice for a range of different conditions.

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