What is meningitis B and why is a vaccine only being offered to some teenagers?
Only select groups of teenagers and some young people will be eligible for the vaccine. Here's why.
Coverage by Political Leaning
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Notable Quotes
"The Kent outbreak and recent clusters indicate a possible change to the way MenB affects people."
— James Murray , Politician
"I urge all those students who are eligible to come forward for their two doses in July and August."
— James Murray , Politician
"Those eligible will be contacted directly through the NHS app, by text and email."
— Caroline Temmink , Executive
"The one-off programme will make menB vaccination available to people who complete Year 13 of education in the summer of 2026 born between September 1 2007 and August 31 2008, as well as people under 25 starting university or moving into some residential further education settings for the first time in autumn 2026."
— James Murray , Politician
"Meningitis and meningococcal sepsis can be very serious and life threatening if not treated quickly. Immunisation is the most effective way of preventing illness from meningococcal disease."
— Dr Daniel Chandler , Academic
"The Bexsero vaccine was designed to protect against meningococcal disease caused by ‘group B’ strains."
— Prof Hannah Christensen , Academic
"The high-profile outbreaks we have seen in the UK this year shows that meningitis outbreaks are severe and of high consequence."
— Dr Michael Head , Academic
"The outbreaks of meningitis B we’ve seen in the UK this year, some involving the tragic deaths of young people..."
— Dr Ben Kasstan-Dabush , Academic
Key People
Caroline Temmink is the Director of Vaccination at NHS England.
Assistant Professor in Global Health & Development at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
Consultant in Public Health at Public Health Scotland.
Senior Research Fellow in Global Health at the University of Southampton.
Dr Shamez Ladhani is a consultant epidemiologist at the UKHSA.
James Murray is the Chief Secretary to the Treasury.
Professor in Infectious Disease Epidemiology at the University of Bristol.
Tags
All Coverage
Only select groups of teenagers and some young people will be eligible for the vaccine. Here's why.
The UK government has announced a one-off vaccination programme offering the meningitis B vaccine to teenagers in their final school year and young people starting university, following recent outbreaks in Kent, Dorset, and Berkshire that led to three deaths.
Approximately one million Year 13 pupils and individuals under 25 starting university or residential further education this autumn will be offered a meningitis B vaccine, following a series of outbreaks, including a cluster in Kent that resulted in two teenage deaths.
In response to recent outbreaks of meningitis in the UK, the Scottish Government has announced plans to offer a new programme of Meningococcal B (MenB) vaccination for young people this summer, targeting those at higher risk of exposure to meningococcal group B bacteria.
Young people in Wales will be offered the Meningococcal B (MenB) vaccine for the first time as part of a temporary vaccination programme beginning later this year, following a series of outbreaks across the UK, including an outbreak among students at the University of Kent in March 2026.
The UK government announces a one-off MenB vaccination programme for Year 13 pupils and young people starting university, following a series of outbreaks that left two Kent teenagers dead.
Experts provide reactions to the UK government's announcement of a one-off MenB vaccination programme for young people, emphasizing the importance of awareness and vaccination.
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