'Freshers' flu' is a common name for a collection of cold viruses that typically spread rapidly when students arrive at university. It's unpleasant but rarely serious, though sometimes it may be genuine flu. Flu is more than just a bad cold and can be particularly serious for people with long-term health conditions, even when those …
Many vaccines need more than one dose to provide protection. This blog post explains why multiple doses are sometimes needed, how vaccine schedules are determined, and what the evidence says about staying protected.
A time-limited MenB vaccine offer is available now for eligible young people, including those who are starting university as undergraduates or moving into residential further education settings for the first time in autumn 2026.
Three young people in Weymouth, Dorset have been confirmed to have meningitis B, known as MenB. All-three individuals have received treatment and are recovering well. These cases are not linked to the recent outbreak in Kent and this outbreak is not showing the same speed of transmission or severity of illness.
The NHS childhood vaccination schedule has recently been updated to help give children even better protection against diseases. Changes include protecting children against some diseases earlier and adding vaccines that protect against more diseases.
