University Students: Uk Vaccine Availability And Access

University students in the UK have been encouraged to get vaccinated against COVID-19. While the vaccine is not mandatory, universities have been setting up vaccination centres on campus to make the process more convenient for students. Students are also encouraged to get vaccinated against other diseases, such as meningitis, measles, mumps, and rubella, as universities can be hotspots for the spread of infections. International students are advised to register with a GP and get an NHS number to access the vaccine.

University students returning to the UK from Gibraltar

As of January 2022, the UK government has advised that all international arrivals to England, including UK nationals, are required to present a negative COVID-19 test taken up to 72 hours prior to departure. This applies to all travellers, including those returning from Gibraltar. It is important to check the latest government advice before travelling as travel advice is subject to rapid change.

Students returning to the UK from Gibraltar can register with a new GP and check their vaccination status. If a student has missed any routine vaccinations, they can make an appointment to have them before they leave Gibraltar or after they arrive in the UK. It is important to note that it can take several weeks for immunity to build up after receiving a vaccine, so students should ideally be vaccinated several weeks before arriving at university.

Students travelling from Gibraltar to the UK should also be aware of the risk of infectious diseases, particularly in university settings where there is close contact with many new people. Being fully vaccinated helps to stop the transmission of infectious diseases and protects not only the individual but also their family, peers, and lecturers. In addition to the vaccinations mentioned, students should also consider getting the cervical screening vaccine if eligible.

MMR vaccine for UK and international students

The MMR vaccine is recommended for all babies and young children in the UK, but older children and adults can also get it if they were not vaccinated when they were younger. The MMR vaccine is important because it gives long-term protection against measles, mumps, and rubella, which can lead to serious problems including meningitis, blindness, and hearing loss.

University students are at a higher risk of contracting certain illnesses than the general population. This is because they are exposed to many new people, some of whom may unknowingly carry certain diseases or infections. For example, universities can be hotspots for measles, mumps, and rubella, as well as meningitis, which can spread easily in a university setting. Therefore, it is very important for university students to be up to date with their vaccinations, including the MMR vaccine.

A survey conducted by the University of Leicester before the pandemic found that 16% of students did not know their MMR vaccine status. This figure was even higher for international students, who reported high rates of uncertainty about their MMR vaccine status. This is a concern because students who are uncertain about their vaccine status may not have received the MMR vaccine, putting them at a higher risk of contracting and spreading these diseases.

To address this issue, universities should prioritise providing specific vaccine status and access information for all vaccines, including the MMR vaccine, to their students, especially international students. This information should be easily accessible through digital platforms such as the NHS app in the UK. Additionally, universities should implement wide-scale on-campus vaccination programmes, which can help improve population protection through reduced transmission.

For UK students, your home GP should be able to arrange for you to have the MMR vaccine before you arrive at university. If you are an international student, you should ask your doctor about getting the MMR vaccine before you depart for the UK. If you have not received the MMR vaccine before arriving at university, you should speak to a GP as soon as possible to arrange this.

MenACWY vaccine for students up to their 25th birthday

The MenACWY vaccine is recommended for all teenagers and is usually given to children when they are 13 or 14 years old (school year 9 or 10). It is important to have the MenACWY vaccine before starting university because universities can be hotspots for meningitis, measles, mumps, and meningococcal disease. The MenACWY vaccine can prevent three of the four most common forms of meningococcal disease in the UK and is available free to students who are going to university for the first time up until their 25th birthday.

If you are a UK student, your home GP should be able to arrange for you to have the vaccine. If you are an international student, ask your doctor for the vaccine. Depending on what is available under your local health service, you may be able to have the vaccine in your home country before you depart for the UK. If you need the MenACWY vaccine, you should ideally have it several weeks before you arrive at university, as it can take some time for your immunity to build up. If you have a high temperature, wait until you are feeling better before having the vaccine.

If you are over 25 years of age, your risk of being infected with meningitis is substantially reduced, and you do not need to have the vaccine. If you are unsure whether you have had the MenACWY vaccine, contact your GP practice to check and to make an appointment. If you have symptoms of meningitis or sepsis, measles, or mumps, you should seek medical advice quickly.

University vaccination centres in the UK

University students are at a higher risk of contracting certain illnesses than the general population. This is because they are exposed to new people, some of whom may unknowingly carry certain bacteria and viruses. In addition, one in five young adults starting university may have missed routine vaccinations earlier in life. Therefore, it is important to have the appropriate vaccinations and remain vigilant for symptoms.

In the UK, universities are setting up their own vaccination centres to encourage vaccine uptake and make campuses as safe as possible for the autumn term. For example, the University of the West of England (UWE) in Bristol and Kingston University in south London have already opened campus vaccination centres. The University of Stirling in Scotland has also opened a centre to students and the public.

In addition to COVID-19 vaccination centres, there are other vaccination services available to university students in the UK. For example, the MenACWY vaccine, which protects against four types of meningococcal disease and septicaemia, is available free to students who are going to university for the first time up until their 25th birthday. The MMR vaccine, which provides protection against measles, mumps, and rubella, is also strongly recommended for students before they arrive at university.

Students can receive these vaccines from their home GP before departing for university, or they can register with a GP in their university city to receive the vaccine. For example, many students at UCL will be able to register at Ridgmount Practice, a partner GP surgery, and get the vaccine there.

COVID-19 vaccination requirements for students in Australia

International students in Australia will be able to get the COVID-19 vaccine for free. This includes all visa holders in Australia, such as refugees, asylum seekers, temporary protection visa holders, and those on bridging visas. International students who are not eligible for Medicare will need to apply for an Individual Health Identifier (IHI) to get the COVID-19 vaccine at some vaccination hubs. The IHI will enable your COVID-19 vaccination and future vaccinations to be recorded accurately, and it will give you access to an Immunisation History Statement, which serves as proof of vaccination.

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) recommends that healthcare students, including those on placements, receive an annual COVID-19 vaccination. If your school or discipline mandates COVID-19 vaccination for placements, you must provide proof of your annual vaccination. This means that you are required to have received a COVID-19 vaccine within the past 12 months to remain compliant. If your school does not mandate the COVID-19 vaccination, individual placement sites may still require it as part of their specific policies.

National boards, including AHPRA, strongly encourage all registered health practitioners and students (especially those on placements) to get the full course of the COVID-19 vaccination unless medically contraindicated. Queensland Health also recommends vaccination against COVID-19. From 2024, evidence of COVID-19 vaccination will not be required for entry into the Doctor of Medicine Program at the University of Queensland and will not be collected at the commencement of the Program.

The University of Sydney offers COVID-19 Pfizer bivalent vaccine appointments for staff, students, and their spouses, aged over 18. Appointments are available to both Medicare card and Non-Medicare card holders. Non-Medicare card holders must apply for an Individual Health Identifier prior to the appointment. The University of Canberra also offers vaccination programs at low cost to students.

The University of Canberra requires students to have received one or more doses of the COVID-19 vaccine (dependent on course requirements) before they commence placement. Placement providers only accept vaccines that are approved or recognised by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) or recognised for the purpose of travel to Australia by the TGA. The list of approved or recognised vaccinations can be found on the TGA website.

Frequently asked questions