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AIBU?

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Original poster

Should a vaccination programme be roll out nationwide for Meningitis B for teens/young adults

79 replies

SSAW2026 · 21/03/2026 09:25

Watching the recent outbreak in Kent.

The rapid decline of young people with Meningitis B and the sad death of 2 in such a quick time after symptoms onset, makes ne wonder if a full vaccination programme is needed nationwide.

OP posts:
VickyEadieofThigh · 21/03/2026 22:07

Youdontseehow · 21/03/2026 16:39

The age for eligibility for the shingles vaccine is being lowered. There are not enough resources to give everyone it who is now age eligible in the one year - millions of people are technically due it but there is a finite number of staff.

Therefore the decision was made to roll it out in stages. So people who were 65, 66, 67 on September 1st 2025 are offered it this year whereas 68 and 69 year olds (on Sept 1st 2025) will get it on the year of their 70th birthday.

It’s a pragmatic solution to a delivery/numbers issue but yeah, difficult for people to get their heads around. I’ve had couples at the clinic with a few days difference in age with one getting it and one not.

Covid is now for 75+ unless your immune system is compromised and pneumococcal is 65+, again unless you have certain health conditions.

I don’t think people realise (and why would they if they were not in the field) just how complex and multifaceted the immunisation programmes in the UK are. Decisions must be evidence based and must do the greatest good for the greatest number. Emotions don’t come into it.

Show quote history

I never mentioned "emotions". I was simply pointing out that comments suggesting "pensioners" all get various vaccines is incorrect. Though quite why they decided to roll out shingles such that younger pensioners got it before older ones is beyond me.

Original poster
SSAW2026 · 21/03/2026 22:41

@AStonedRose why so many deletions?

OP posts:
Original poster
SSAW2026 · 22/03/2026 10:46

busyd4y · 21/03/2026 14:05

Google isn't showing me any reliable numbers on how many people die each year from meningitis but it doesn't seem to be anywhere near 100s, the total number of UK cases appears only to be in 100s and the death rate appears to be 1 in 20.

Are you referring to worldwide deaths?

I'd be interested in being able to find some realible data on how deadly this is

Show quote history

I couldn't find anything tgat wasn't this current outbreak.

An article here suggests Meningitis is back'

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/mar/17/uk-meningitis-vaccine-panic-public-health

Meningitis is back – and here is why | Devi Sridhar

After two deaths, it’s right to be concerned and to discuss investment in public health. But our system is good and it’s working, says Devi Sridhar, chair of global public health at the University of Edinburgh

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/mar/17/uk-meningitis-vaccine-panic-public-health

OP posts:
AnxiousUniParent · 23/03/2026 19:33

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/meningococcal-disease-laboratory-confirmed-cases-in-england-2023-to-2024/invasive-meningococcal-disease-in-england-annual-laboratory-confirmed-reports-for-epidemiological-year-2023-to-2024

This has a lot of data.. 2023/24 seemed to have uncharacteristically low case fatality rate of 3% when other years are 8 and 10% but the number of cases of MenB has been between 300 and 600 for quite some time.

There has been a lot of misleading reporting.

Yes, MenB has been increasing since 2020 but that was because of COVID.. no one was interacting! 2023/25 and 24/25 were back to pre covid levels.

There is much more I could say about the reporting, not least the article that reported cases and deaths and had to retract.

MenB is a serious and devastating illness and should be taken seriously. This outbreak is unusual due to the number of cases .. but it is also unusual due to the amount of press coverage it has received.

The MenB vaccine has only been available since 2015, before that there were no vaccines for this strain. There are up to 100 sub strains and vaccine effectiveness is between 60 and 70%, in teens, it wanes after 18 months to 2 years and there is no herd immunity effect because it does not kill the bacteria that is present in the nasal passages of at least 10% of the population at any one time.

Again.. it is a serious disease and the vaccine policy should be reviewed, but a vaccine rollout may not be the answer everyone hopes it might be.

Invasive meningococcal disease in England: annual laboratory confirmed reports for epidemiological year 2023 to 2024

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/meningococcal-disease-laboratory-confirmed-cases-in-england-2023-to-2024/invasive-meningococcal-disease-in-england-annual-laboratory-confirmed-reports-for-epidemiological-year-2023-to-2024

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