YOUR first few weeks at university pass in a blur of people, parties and – for the majority – binge drinking.

It will feel like half your halls have come down with the dreaded ‘fresher’s flu’ after burning the candle at both ends, but what if the symptoms mask something more sinister? Tui Benjamin finds out more.

TEENAGERS in Bolton are being urged to come forward to have a new vaccine against meningitis and septicaemia – especially if they plan to go to university in September.

In June this year it was announced that from this month, all 17 and 18-year-olds would be eligible to have the Meningitis ACWY vaccination.

GP practices in Bolton will be automatically sending letters inviting teenagers to attend – and students aged 19 to 25 who are going away to university for the first time are being urged to contact their doctor’s surgery to have the vaccination before the academic year starts.

The vaccination will offer teenagers protection against meningitis – inflammation of the brain – and septicaemia – blood poisoning – for four strains of the disease including Meningitis W.

Meningitis W is a particularly deadly strain of meningococcal disease which has been rapidly increasing year-on-year – and is most common among teenagers and young people.

There were 22 cases in 2009, but this rose to 117 in 2014 – with the Men W bacteria currently responsible for around a quarter of all meningitis cases in England.

It is fatal in one in ten cases and can lead to long-term health problems such as amputations, deafness, epilepsy and learning difficulties.

Dr Mary Ramsay, head of immunisation at Public Health England, said: “We are encouraging all eligible teenagers to take-up the offer of vaccination when they are contacted by their GP.

“If you are planning to go to university or college, you should be vaccinated before the start of the academic term or ideally two weeks before leaving home for university or college.

“This vaccine will save lives and prevent permanent disability.

“Be aware of all signs and symptoms and trust your instincts – don’t wait for a rash to develop before seeking urgent medical attention.”

Health experts say students are particularly vulnerable to meningitis due to close contact in shared accommodation, such as halls of residence, and exposure to bacteria and viruses that their bodies may not have met before.

Early symptoms of meningitis – which develop rapidly and include headache, vomiting, muscle pain and fever with cold hands and feet – can be mistaken for flu or a hangover.

Once a rash of tiny red pinpricks which do not fade under pressure appears, this means septicaemia has already set in.

A spokesman for the University of Bolton’s Student’s Union said: “We have local GPs at the freshers' fair who will encourage students to sign up to a practice and get vaccinated.

“We also put flyers about meningitis in the welcome packs of all students, and raise awareness about the disease on social media.”

The charity Meningitis Now has now launched a new campaign – called ‘Off to Uni’ – which aims to reach out to parents, grandparents and legal guardians to ensure their loved ones heading off to university this autumn are not complacent about meningitis.

Sue Davie, Chief Executive of Meningitis Now, said: “I would plead directly to parents to make sure that their children gets the Men ACWY vaccination.

“It is critical that young people are not complacent about the disease and they take the necessary steps to protect themselves, stay vigilant and seek urgent medical help if they suspect it.”

Health chiefs hope vaccinating teenagers against Men W will indirectly protect other age groups such as unvaccinated babies, children and older people because teenagers are the age group to most likely carry the meningococcal bacteria at the back of their noses.