CHS students will be the first teenagers in the country to receive the Meningitis B vaccine as part of an important research study.
Looking at the best way of using the vaccine, the research is being overseen by CHS’s own Frist Aid team and conducted locally by Stockport NHS Foundation Trust.
‘Be On The Team: Teenagers Against Meningitis’ invites students over the age of 16 years to have 2 doses of a licensed vaccine against meningitis (MenB) for which they would not otherwise be eligible.
The national study, which is enrolling 24000 Year 12 student volunteers, is being funded by the Department of Health and led by the University of Oxford.
Most teenagers have a 10% risk of contracting the disease in Sixth Form, which jumps to 80% in the first 6 weeks of university.
The aim of the study is to find out whether immunising teenagers with a MenB vaccine reduces the carriage of meningococcus in teenager’s throats.
CHS First Aid Manager, Mrs Debbie Woodcock visited Stepping Hill Hospital with Year 12 students Ben and Victoria to discuss the initial planning and organisation of rolling out the programme in School.
Debbie said: “This is an exciting opportunity for CHS to be involved in and most importantly, all students who participate will be safer at university.”
The research programme’s lead Clinical Research Nurse, Debbie Suggitt met with CHS’s Lower Sixth students and advised them of what was involved and how the findings will help them understand the best way of using meningitis vaccines to reduce risk of the disease.
Each student taking part will receive a certificate as appreciation for their contribution and their involvement can also be included on their UCAS forms.
