Free MenB vaccine offered to eligible teens and new university students in England

England is providing a complimentary meningitis B jab to 17-18-year-olds in sixth form and to students under 25 starting residential college or university this autumn.

Following a fast-moving meningitis B outbreak in Kent that resulted in 29 cases and two fatalities, NHS England has launched a free vaccination drive targeting roughly one million youths. Eligible groups are 17- and 18-year-olds in sixth form and anyone under 25 who will reside in a university or residential college for the first time this autumn, including international students studying in England. The MenB vaccine, which contains no live bacteria, is offered in two doses at least four weeks apart and can be booked at high-street pharmacies or obtained as a walk-in without a GP registration.

Over 90,000 doses have already been administered, with an additional 135,000 scheduled in the coming weeks. Health officials stress that first-year students have a seven-fold higher risk of infection due to close contact in shared accommodation, making the campaign crucial for preventing severe outcomes such as meningitis, sepsis, and long-term disability.