What vaccinations do university students need?
Starting university means meeting hundreds of new people, often while living in shared halls — which makes it the perfect time to check your vaccinations are up to date. The two most important are MenACWY, which protects against four groups of meningococcal bacteria, and MMR (measles, mumps and rubella), where many young adults have missed a dose. Many students also choose the MenB vaccine, which guards against the most common cause of meningococcal disease in this age group but is not routinely offered to older teenagers. Students on healthcare, nursing or laboratory courses usually need additional vaccines such as hepatitis B, with evidence of immunity, before they can start placements. At Belgrave PharmHealth in Highfield we provide all of these, with the certificates and documentation universities and placements require — quickly, and close to both Sheffield campuses.
Meningitis vaccines for students
First-year students are at increased risk of meningococcal disease, which can cause meningitis and septicaemia and progress dangerously fast. Vaccination is the best protection:
- MenACWY — protects against meningococcal groups A, C, W and Y. Recommended for all new students and offered free on the NHS up to age 25 for first-time students, or privately with us if you prefer same-day access.
- MenB — protects against group B, the most common cause of meningococcal disease in students. Not part of the older-teen schedule, so many students choose to have it privately.
MMR catch-up for students and young adults
Measles is highly infectious and the UK has seen recent outbreaks, partly because some young adults missed MMR doses as children. Two doses give strong, lifelong protection, and you can catch up at any age. If you are unsure whether you had both doses, it is safe to be vaccinated again — we can advise during your appointment.
For the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam
Our Highfield location is convenient for both of Sheffield’s universities. The University of Sheffield’s main campuses at Western Bank and St George’s sit near Broomhill, a short journey across the city. Sheffield Hallam University’s City and Collegiate campuses on Howard Street are minutes from the centre and one tram stop from us. With tens of thousands of students across the two institutions — including thousands of international students — we are set up to get you protected quickly, with same-day appointments and free parking.
Healthcare and occupational vaccinations
If you are studying nursing, medicine, dentistry, paramedic science or another healthcare subject, your placement provider will likely require proof of immunity before you start. We provide hepatitis B vaccination with antibody testing, plus MMR and varicella (chickenpox) immunity checks, and the documentation your university occupational health team needs. This also applies to laboratory and some veterinary courses.
What’s included and when to book
- A short consultation to review which vaccines you need
- Same-day vaccination where suitable
- Records and certificates for your university or placement
- Honest advice — including which vaccines you may already be covered for
Our busiest period is late August and September, so book before freshers’ week if you can. Getting protected early means you are covered before the social whirl of starting university begins.