UK launches free meningitis B vaccine campaign for university students

The UK government will provide free meningitis B (MenB) vaccinations to final‑year school pupils and first‑time university entrants starting in July. The one‑off campaign targets around one million teenagers and young adults born between 1 September 2007 and 31 August 2008, as well as anyone under 25 beginning higher‑education studies for the first time. Health Secretary James Murray said the rollout follows recent MenB outbreaks in Kent, Dorset and Berkshire that killed three people. The two‑dose Bexsero vaccine will be administered at least 28 days apart, with invitations sent via the NHS app, texts and email.

Wales will introduce its own MenB programme from autumn 2026, offering the vaccine to 17‑ to 18‑year‑olds and 18‑ to 25‑year‑olds entering higher‑education or residential further‑education settings for the first time. Eligibility letters will be mailed from early July, and the programme runs through December 2026. Deputy Minister Nerys Evans and Chief Medical Officer Professor Isabel Oliver emphasized the vaccine’s safety and the need for prompt uptake to protect young people in university residences and colleges.