Health officials have urged young people to take up a free vaccine which could protect them against meningitis (MenB) before they go to university or college.

On Tuesday, the Public Health Agency (PHA) confirmed an urgent rollout of the two-dose vaccination will begin in GP practices and some community pharmacies in Northern Ireland from 31 July.

It follows concerns over the UK’s largest and fastest growing outbreak at a university in England earlier this year, in which two people died.

The PHA’s Senior Commissioning Lead for Immunisations, Rachel Spiers, said MenB is rare but the consequences are “very serious and potentially fatal”.

“What I would say to students is that when you’re preparing to go to university, put this on your checklist along with getting your laptop, getting your textbooks and booking your accommodation,” she said.

MenB is a serious bacterial infection which can cause illnesses like meningitis – inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord – or blood poisoning (sepsis).

It can lead to life-changing disabilities, including hearing loss, brain damage or amputations.