Freshers heading off to halls are encouraged to get their MMR and meningitis vaccines before leaving for university.

Students who want to catch up on their jabs can book in by calling 01534 443741 and head down to outpatients between 3:30 pm and 6:30 pm on 1 August 2024.

The free vaccines are being offered to young people who may have missed doses when they were babies, four years old or Year 9 pupils.

MMR and meningitis are dangerous diseases which can be spread quickly in halls or new situations where many people mix from different areas.

In some cases, the diseases can become serious or fatal.

Professor Peter Bradley, Head of Public Health, says students are at higher risk.

"People are congregating, lots of people all together, and these are some of the infectious diseases that we know we have outbreaks of from time to time.

"They are quite serious, if I caught meningitis, for example, it can lead to life-threatening sepsis, so it is important."