Hundreds of thousands of students are about to embark on university or college life without protection against one of the UK's most feared diseases – meningococcal B (MenB) disease. The National Health Service (NHS) is urging 17 and 18-year-olds, as well as those under 25 starting higher or further education for the first time, to book their potentially lifesaving MenB vaccine at a high street pharmacy.
The call comes as appointments for the jab become available from Monday, 20 July 2026. This drive aims to ensure eligible young people can receive both necessary doses of the vaccine before they start university or college, ideally ahead of the typical autumn rise in meningitis cases. The bacteria causing MenB disease spreads easily through close contact – think kissing, sharing drinks, or living in shared spaces for prolonged periods.
Meningococcal B can cause severe and life-threatening health issues, including inflammation of the brain lining (meningitis) and blood poisoning (sepsis). In some cases, these conditions can be fatal. First-year university students are particularly vulnerable, with a risk of contracting MenB estimated to be seven times higher than that of their peers who don't attend university.
Over one million young people are expected to be eligible for the vaccine. This includes those born between 1 September 2007 and 31 August 2008, as well as individuals born on or after 21 July 2001 who start university or specific residential further education colleges this autumn. Booking is available through the NHS National Booking Service from today for 17 and 18-year-olds; others can contact a participating pharmacy directly to arrange their appointment.
The push for vaccination follows evidence from the UK infant vaccination programme, which has shown a 75% reduction in Meningitis cases among vaccinated groups. This year's seen more clusters of MenB cases than usual – some larger than anticipated, including a tragic outbreak in Kent earlier this year that resulted in two fatalities. As part of this drive, the Department of Health and Social Care and the Department for Education have launched a new School-Aged Vaccination Taskforce to boost vaccination uptake across all school-aged programmes.