Before buying duvet covers or cutlery, put vaccines on your to do list.
Ideally, you should have any vaccines you have missed before leaving for university or college so you can build up protection before you arrive. If that's not possible, arrange to have any missed vaccines as soon as possible with your new GP practice on arrival at university/ college. Register with your new GP before you leave for uni – don’t wait until you’re ill.
Make sure you are up to date with all your free routine NHS vaccines
Two doses of MMR vaccine are usually offered, one when you are a toddler and one before you start primary school. HPV and MenACWY vaccines are offered at secondary school.
Check with your GP practice if you're not sure whether you have missed any of the these vaccines and book an appointment at your GP practice if you need to catch up:
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One dose of MenACWY vaccine
Protects against MenA, MenC, MenW and MenY meningococcal meningitis (dangerous inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord) and/or septicaemia (blood poisoning). Find out more about the MenACWY vaccine.
It is really important that students in certain health risk groups have any additional vaccines they are recommended (like those protecting against flu and COVID-19).
Students who are gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men are also eligible for HPV vaccine when they visit a specialist sexual health service or HIV clinic.
Some transgender people are also eligible for the HPV vaccine. For more detail, please read the NHS guidance on the HPV vaccine.
Meningitis - know the signs
MenACWY vaccine gives you high protection against four common forms of meningococcal disease but won’t protect against others, like MenB. While this disease is very rare, it is important you know the signs and symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia (blood poisoning), how to get medical help if you need it and how to look out for your health and the health of others.