Following the Meningitis B outbreak in Kent earlier this year, a national review has concluded that this was the largest and fastest growing outbreak seen in the UK. In addition, there has been an increase in clusters of diagnosed cases, above what would normally be expected.
UKHSA has therefore announced a one off MenB vaccination programme to protect Year 13 pupils and those under 25 who are starting university or residential further education in the autumn.
The programme will consist of two doses of vaccine, with the first offered from July and the second in August.
To review the full publication please visit: Thousands of young people to be offered 2-dose MenB vaccine – GOV.UK and Meningococcal B (MenB) time limited vaccination offer letter.
Eligible patients
| all individuals born between 1 September 2007 and 31 August 2008 (current school year 13 age group) |
| individuals who turn 25 years of age after 31 December 2026 (born on or after 1 January 2002) and are due to start undergraduate higher education in autumn 2026, including international students and those from the UK devolved administrations and Crown Dependencies |
| individuals who turn 25 years of age between 21 July 2026 and 31 December 2026 (born between 21 July 2001 and 31 December 2001) inclusive and are due to start undergraduate higher education in autumn 2026, including international students and those from the UK devolved administrations and Crown Dependencies |
| individuals who turn 25 years of age after 31 December 2026 (born on or after 1 January 2002) and will be living in further education accommodation or halls of residence for the first time in autumn 2026, including international students and those from the UK devolved administrations and Crown Dependencies |
| individuals who turn 25 years of age between 21 July 2026 and 31 December 2026 (born between 21 July 2001 and 31 December 2001) inclusive and will be living in further education accommodation or halls of residence for the first time in autumn 2026, including international students and those from the UK devolved administrations and Crown Dependencies |
Exclusions include:
| those aged less than 25 years, who are not entering HERFE for the first time in the autumn term 2026, and fall outside the current year 13 age group specified above |
| postgraduates and other students who are not entering HERFE for the first time in the autumn term of 2026 |
| those who have completed a 2-dose course of Bexsero® within the last 5 years |
| those who have completed a 2-dose (provided those doses were given at least 6 months apart) or 3-dose course of Trumenba® within the last 5 years |
This is a time-limited offer (with first doses offered until 31 December 2026 and second doses offered until 31 March 2027). This enables late attendees and international students who arrive in the UK after the summer months, to accept the offer of 2 doses.
How patients will access the programme
General practice has not been commissioned to participate in this programme. Vaccinations will be delivered via a nationally commissioned pharmacy service. At present, SSLMCs has no visibility of the level of provider sign up across our area.
NHS England has advised that eligible patients will be contacted directly via the NHS App, letter, or text message. Patients should therefore wait to be contacted. It is not yet clear how NHS England will identify the full eligible cohort.
Appointments will be available to book via the NHS website from 13 July 2026. The booking link can be found here: Book a MenB vaccination appointment – NHS
Advertising and patient queries
Practices are likely to receive patient enquiries. Patients should be advised to wait to be contacted or directed to the national booking route once open.
What this means for general practice
General practice has not been commissioned or funded to provide any aspect of this programme. Despite practices having a strong track record in delivering vaccination programmes, the profession has not been involved in the design or delivery of this initiative. The BMA GP Committee was not consulted in advance, and concerns surrounding this have been raised nationally.
Practices should also note that the existing contractual requirement to deliver MenB vaccination relates to the routine childhood immunisation programme only and does not extend to this cohort.
Practices should not undertake any additional activity related to this programme, including cohort identification, data extraction, or vaccination delivery, unless formally commissioned and funded to do so.
If practices receive requests to identify eligible patients or to share patient level data, these should not be actioned unless there is a clear legal basis and formal instruction. We ask that you notify the LMC of any such requests at the earliest opportunity so that we can review and escalate as appropriate.
If you have any queries, please contact the LMC office: