The UK government has announced a new, one-off vaccination programme offering two doses of the Meningitis B (MenB) vaccine to specific groups of young people. The initiative, set to commence in late July, targets teenagers in their final year of school and individuals under 25 who are starting university or moving into residential further education settings for the first time this autumn, including international students. This measure comes in response to an unprecedented outbreak of MenB in Kent earlier this year, alongside clusters of cases in Dorset and Berkshire, which collectively led to the deaths of three young people.
The vaccine, known as Bexsero, offers protection against most strains of MenB bacteria. Experts suggest the protection from two doses, administered at least 28 days apart, is likely to last for a minimum of six years. The health secretary, James Murray, highlighted that while the recent cases involved different MenB strains, all would have been covered by the vaccine. He stated that these outbreaks suggest a potential shift in how MenB affects individuals, prompting this immediate action to protect those at highest risk as they transition into higher education.
Eligibility for the programme includes all young people born between 1 September 2007 and 31 August 2008 – encompassing those of Year 13 age in England and Wales, or equivalent school years in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) notes that cases of invasive meningococcal disease typically peak between October and November each year, making the pre-academic year vaccination crucial for reducing the risk of serious illness and larger outbreaks.
Young people are considered to be at higher risk of contracting MenB, particularly when entering university, due to factors such as shared accommodation, social gatherings, and extensive social networks that facilitate bacterial spread. While the MenB vaccine has been part of the routine NHS immunisation programme for babies in the UK since 2015, it is not routinely offered to older teenagers and young adults, who currently receive the MenACWY vaccine for other meningococcal groups. This gap has led some parents to seek private MenB vaccination, which can cost upwards of £200 per child.
Caroline Temmink, Director of Vaccination at NHS England, confirmed that eligible individuals will be contacted directly through the NHS app, text messages, and email. Furthermore, those under 25 starting university for the first time will have the option to book their appointments directly with participating pharmacies. Dr Shamez Ladhani, a consultant epidemiologist at the UKHSA, clarified that this is an emergency outbreak response, not a routine programme expansion, and is expected to cover approximately one million teenagers and young adults, focusing on the group deemed to be at the highest risk.
Meningitis B bacteria can reside harmlessly in the nose and throat, but in some cases, they can cause severe infections such as meningitis – an inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord – or blood poisoning. The NHS reports that up to one in ten cases of bacterial meningitis are fatal, and survivors can face long-term health issues like hearing loss or epilepsy, underscoring the critical importance of vaccination.
Source: UK Government, NHS England, UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)