A-level results day health checks before university

In guidance published on GOV.UK, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, or MHRA, congratulates students getting their A-level results and asks them to do one very practical thing before the next chapter starts: sort their health admin. If university is only a few weeks away, or if you are heading into work, college or another path, this is the moment to check that your vaccinations, medicines and medical devices are all up to date. That may sound less exciting than choosing halls or meeting flatmates, but it matters. For many young people, this is the first time you are fully in charge of repeat prescriptions, expiry dates and knowing what to do when you feel ill. Phil Tregunno, the MHRA's Deputy Director of Patient Safety Monitoring, puts the focus on getting prepared now so you can spend your first weeks settling in, not scrambling for healthcare.

One of the clearest warnings in the MHRA advice is about meningitis B. It is a serious infection that can cause long-term harm and can be life-threatening. Because it can spread between people, students in halls and shared houses may face higher risk at exactly the point when everyone is mixing, socialising and living close together. The best protection is the MenB vaccine. The MHRA explains that the offer is delivered slightly differently across the UK, so you need to check what applies where you live and whether you are eligible. It also notes that the course needs two doses, which is why timing matters before you leave home. **What this means for you:** do not assume you are covered because you had childhood jabs; check your record and book early if you need it.

The article also does something useful for media literacy: it explains who is checking vaccine safety in the first place. The MHRA says it approves, tests and monitors vaccines used in the UK, and that it checks every batch after approval as well. That part matters, especially online, where half-true claims about vaccines can spread very quickly. There is a second part to safety too. The agency says patients are one of its most important partners in spotting possible problems, which is why the Yellow Card scheme exists. If you suspect a side effect from a vaccine, you can report it there. The MHRA also points readers to its patient factsheets on meningitis and vaccine safety, which are designed to explain the evidence in clear language rather than leave people guessing.

If you have asthma, autumn can be awkward timing. Freshers’ week and the start of term land just as coughs and colds begin doing the rounds, and those illnesses can be especially hard on people whose asthma is already being tested by a new routine, late nights or a move away from home. The MHRA's advice is practical: check that your inhalers are in date, take them exactly as prescribed, use your preventer every day if you have one, and keep your reliever with you. If your inhaler does not have a dose counter, keep track of how many doses you have used rather than relying on the feel of the canister, because an inhaler can still seem to contain liquid after the medicine has gone. If you use a spacer, pack that too. If your symptoms are getting worse and your inhaler is not helping, seek urgent medical help. The original guidance also points readers to NHS England London's #AskAboutAsthma campaign for extra support.

For students with serious allergies, adrenaline auto-injectors are not a small extra in your bag; they are essential. These devices, including brands such as EpiPen and Jext, are used for people at risk of anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction that can be fatal. The MHRA reminds young people that there are three different types of adrenaline auto-injector, so you need to know how to use the one you have been prescribed. Carry two devices with you, make sure both are in date, and replace them before they expire. The agency also points readers to its safety campaign materials, including demonstration videos. **What this means for you:** in an emergency, confidence and speed matter, so knowing your own device before term begins is part of staying safe.

The article then shifts to something almost every student will face: coughs, colds, flu-like symptoms and the temptation to reach for antibiotics. The MHRA is blunt here, and rightly so. Colds and flu are caused by viruses, not bacteria, which means antibiotics will not help. A local pharmacy can often guide you on symptom relief far more usefully than leftover tablets from an old prescription. When antibiotics are prescribed, the advice is just as firm: take the full course exactly as directed by your GP, nurse or pharmacist. The agency links this to antimicrobial resistance, or AMR, which happens when bacteria and other microorganisms adapt and survive the medicines meant to kill them. The MHRA notes that AMR is a global problem that claimed more than a million lives worldwide in 2021. If you have leftover antibiotics, take them to a pharmacy for safe disposal rather than putting them in the bin or washing them away. The agency also points readers to its wider work on tackling AMR.

What makes this guidance work is that it treats health responsibility as part of growing up, not as a scare tactic. Results day is full of big emotions and big decisions, but the quieter checks often make the biggest difference once the excitement settles. Vaccination records, repeat prescriptions, expiry dates and knowing where to get advice are all part of being ready. So before you think only about moving boxes and freshers’ plans, give the health checklist a proper look. The MHRA's message is not just for university students either. If you are starting work, an apprenticeship or another course, the same rule applies: sort the practical things now, and your future self will thank you when term or training begins.