Aquinas Leads the Way on Pioneering Meningitis Trial

Aquinas College is taking part in a world leading NHS meningitis vaccine trial for teenagers; the Be on the TEAM (Teenagers Against Meningitis) trial. The study hopes to establish whether giving a group B meningococcal (MenB) vaccine to teenagers reduces carriage of this bacteria in their throat, potentially providing protection from this dangerous infection.

 

Bacteria in the throat can cause meningitis (inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain) and septicaemia (blood poisoning), both of which can be fatal or cause long lasting damage. 10% of Year 12s carry the virus increasing to 75% within their first 6 weeks at University.

 

Over the course of the trial more than 700 Aquinas College students have taken part, the largest uptake by any institution in the North West.