The government is set to roll out a significant vaccination program for meningitis B (menB), targeting approximately one million young individuals. This initiative involves administering a one-time jab to Year 13 students, aged 17 and 18, and individuals under 25 starting university or similar residential education in the upcoming autumn. The first dose will be available from July 20, followed by a second dose in August, with a minimum 28-day interval required between the two doses for full protection.
This move follows a series of meningitis outbreaks, notably in Kent, where two teenagers tragically lost their lives earlier this year. Juliette Kenny, 18, was a victim of this outbreak, prompting her family to advocate for wider access to the menB vaccine among teenagers and young adults. In response to these outbreaks, the government is prioritizing the vaccination of at-risk individuals before the new academic year.
Year 13 students will receive notifications through the NHS app, text messages, or letters to schedule their vaccination appointment using the Bexsero vaccine by GSK. Those under 25 can directly book their jab appointments at pharmacies. Eligibility for the vaccination extends to students finishing Year 13 this summer, born between September 1, 2007, and August 31, 2008, regardless of their university plans.
Individuals missing the August dose due to summer holidays can still catch up in September, as the vaccination program is overseen by community pharmacists. The UKHSA highlights the heightened risk of menB among first-year university students due to close interactions in shared living spaces, necessitating proactive vaccination measures.
Health Secretary James Murray emphasized the need for immediate action to safeguard young people entering university amidst evolving menB threats. The two-dose vaccination strategy aims to mitigate the risk of severe illness and large-scale outbreaks, providing peace of mind to eligible students before commencing their studies.
Since the menB vaccine was introduced for infants on the NHS in 2015, current university students may lack protection against this potentially lethal bacterium. Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr. Thomas Waite stresses the seriousness of meningococcal B disease, urging first-time university and further education attendees to promptly receive their initial vaccine dose for optimal safeguarding against the infection.
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