Get your MMR vaccine on campus

At University of Northampton (UON) we are working with West Northamptonshire Public Health and NHS partners to host a series of pop-up vaccination clinics to get protected against Measles.

Measles is a serious disease, with our student population being particularly vulnerable due to a significant proportion being unvaccinated. In unvaccinated people, including those who have only had one dose of the MMR vaccine, Measles spreads easily and can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia and meningitis and sadly can be fatal.

There has been a sharp rise in Measles nationally as cases continue to spread across the UK, so there is a risk that students could get and transmit the illness. Getting the MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubeola) vaccine is the only way to get protection.

A series of pop-up vaccination clinics are being organised from Monday 26 February to Friday 1 March, 10:00 to 16:00 in the Owls Nest, Ground Floor of the Learning Hub, Waterside Campus. A second week of clinics will take place in April 2024.

The MMR vaccine gives protection against 3 serious diseases: Measles, Mumps and Rubella. After receiving 2 doses of the MMR vaccine around 99% of people will be protected against Measles and Rubella, and 88% protected against Mumps. The MMR vaccine is very safe, a few people may experience some side effects, but these are often mild and do not last long.

Chris Powis, Director of Library, Learning and Student Services, is part of the UON team supporting the vaccination clinics on campus. He says: “Keeping our community healthy and safe is a cornerstone of what we do at the University. With the uptick in Measles infections, it’s of paramount importance people who think they need the MMR vaccination have easy access to it.

“If you are unsure of your current vaccination status you can still get the vaccine at the pop-up clinic next week. There is no need to book or be registered with a local GP practice, just turn up!”