Public Health England is advising both new and current students to make sure they are up to date with their measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) and MenACWY vaccines before they come to University.
There has recently been an increase in measles cases across England and Europe, particularly among 15 - 25 year olds. The best way to protect yourself against measles is to have two doses of the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine. MMR is a combined vaccine that protects against 3 separate illnesses – measles, mumps and rubella (German measles) – in a single injection. It is never too late to get the vaccine. There are no risks to your health if you get an extra dose.We advise you to check if you have had two doses of the MMR vaccine with your GP before arriving to university and to arrange a catch up if necessary.
Although there is no cause for alarm, Public Health of England is also advising all new university entrants up to the age of 25, across the country to be vaccinated with the Meningococcal ACWY (MenACWY) vaccine before the beginning of the new academic year. Teenagers and young adults up to the age of 25 are at higher risk from the disease, particularly those coming to university for the first time. Even if you have already had the MenC vaccine, you should have the MenACWY vaccine. The vaccine is available free in UK for students up to the age of 25, including international students.
International students, if you are unable to access these vaccinations in your home country before coming to Queen Mary University of London, you can get them free of charge from a GP in the UK. If you have not been vaccinated by the time you arrive, make an appointment as soon as you have registered with the Student Health Service on campus or with a local GP.
Further information about MMR, meningitis and how to get the vaccinations can be found on our Student Health website.
There is a free Student Health Service available on campus. The Student Health Service is provided by Globe Town Surgery, an independent contractor to National Health Service (NHS) England. Students living in Queen Mary accommodation at Mile End or Whitechapel, and students living in the borough of Tower Hamlets (E1, E2, E3 and E14) are encouraged to register with the Student Health Service (located on campus in the Geography Building, Mile End (number 28 on map). Students living in Dawson Hall at the Charterhouse Square campus or outside Tower Hamlets must register with a doctor close to where they live. You can look up a list of local doctors here.
GP surgeries will normally register all international students in the UK, regardless of the length of your programme. Please visit the student health website for more information about the UK’s healthcare service and how non-UK students can access it.
It may take a little while to register with a doctor. If you need medication for a pre-existing health condition, it is a good idea to ensure that you have sufficient supplies to cover this period.
We also work with local health organisations, such as Barts Health NHS Trust, Positive East and Step Forward, on campaigns and events with the aim of keeping students healthy, improving our students’ physical and mental health and wellbeing. We as well organise events at key times, such as Welcome Week and during revision and exam time. For further information and general non-medical healthcare inquiries, contact us at studenthealth@qmul.ac.uk.
