The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has congratulated students on their A-level results and issued health advice for those preparing for university. The agency highlighted the importance of being up-to-date with vaccinations and having necessary medicines and medical devices.
Phil Tregunno, MHRA Deputy Director of Patient Safety Monitoring, stated that preparing now allows students to focus on settling into university life. The MHRA specifically advised students to get the Meningitis B vaccine, which requires two doses, due to the contagious nature of the infection and the increased risk in shared accommodation.
For students with asthma, the MHRA recommends checking inhaler expiry dates and using preventer inhalers daily, while carrying a reliever inhaler. Those with allergies at risk of anaphylaxis are advised to carry two in-date adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs) and understand their proper use. The agency also cautioned against taking antibiotics for viral infections like colds and flu, noting that inappropriate use contributes to Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).