To not want to pay for meningitis B

[Prettycolorfulflowers]

DD took a gap year and starting uni in September; as she was born before September 2007 she can’t get the vaccine for free. We can not afford the £320.

I think this is very unfair. We spoke to pharmacy and GP.

I paid before it became a thing as there had been an outbreak at a local university. Was it a chunk of money? Yes. But I’d rather eat beans for two months than risk my dc getting meningitis.

Thanks for this thread.

dd starts uni this year and this jab hasn’t been mentioned by anyone- it wasn’t even on my radar to sort out !

I did see the spike in. Cases on the news last year .

@Prettycolorfulflowers my DD also took a gap year and therefore born in 2006 and is off to Uni soon. She got it done at Boots, going back for the 2nd one this week. She had to take proof AKA an email from her Uni.

I got my daughter vaccinated at Boots in central London this summer. Oxford Street branch. Two doses, £110 each. Sold some stuff on Vinted to help towards the cost. Wasn't going to bother but the spike in cases in Kent scared us.

All sorted. Thanks, found another pharmacy

It’s a shame you can’t claim the money back really, but at least she’s covered which is what matters

And if you read my text you'll see I say "if you have no other option"

I did read it… and as I said it won’t be necessary. Not sure what your issue is with that. OP has resolved it now anyway.

She doesn’t have to pay. My son is starting uni two years later and he has just had it free from a pharmacy

If someone is going into year 13 and planning on going to uni next year, are they entitled to a free Men B vaccine and when can they get it?

Vaccine done; however my friend whose son started uni last year can’t get it for free. Why don’t they extend it to all uni students? Costs?

I’m assuming everywhere in the UK has the same rules as here in Northern Ireland. Rules are:
cohort 1 dob 01/07/2007 - 30/06/2008
and
cohort 2 aged 19 - 25 years with proof from a university that your are entering your first year of higher education (for the first time. Ie not having dropped out and starting again).

I would check with their GP again as the rules have changed since the programme was rolled out (GP Office Manager here)

Then don’t. It’s not mandatory.

Im a second year student born 1995. So definitely out of range lol. And yes it’s because of costs as with everything with the nhs.

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/vaccination-and-booking-services/find-a-pharmacy-that-offers-walkin-menb-vaccinations-for-young-people/

check this out to find a pharmacy. you will need to take proof of uni place in halls

Glad she got it OP. I’ll be taking my youngest for his free one on Friday. And nagging my eldest to get the paid for one booked. He’s been poorly and in hospital with a nasty bacterial infection this week as it is so I am mega paranoid now.

I paid before it was offered although looking at your post my DD probably wouldnt have qualifed. Boots was about 200 all in.

I’m sure she is eligible now. It changed recently

My daughter took a gap year and got the vaccine for free yesterday at our local pharmacy. She could not book online but we looked at which pharmacies were offering it and she went there and had it right away. Have you looked up if any are offering it near you or even near the university and at worst she can get it when she arrives.

We’re in SW England and my son (18) had a letter invited him to have it for free. He’s having his at a local pharmacy on Friday. Check with your go surgery

Mine too - age 19. You can walk-in to pharmacies that have the contract in your area - should be several if you’re in a city. We did Boots.

I agree the info is a bit misleading and contradictory on the websites and the government should have factored in the gap- year issue, as it affects thousands of young people who will be starting in HE this Sept.

An additional point: the two doses have to be 28 days apart.

Op you need to do this urgently, as she needs two doses - weeks and weeks apart. There is likely to be an outbreak this coming autumn and winter. I would find the money quite frankly. The roll out of this vaccine has been a total disaster. Most teens have not been adequately vaccinated, and my drs surgery didn't even know about it!!

The government is utterly useless, a total vacuum and are not even focused on this, but it is quickly going to become a very serious issue headlining every newspaper when it comes to light how little has been done to protect our teens and young people.

I paid for DC a year early, for my own peace of mind via a local clinic. It’s definitely worth trying different pharmacies and private clinics to see which is cheapest. Just make sure to book the meningitis B vaccine and not ACWY for travel.

Definitely eligible, friend’s grandson is in same position, only one pharmacy in this area has the contract

We had to pay for ours who started uni last year as they wasn't covered then- would have been if she started this year! Really annoying and could have done without spending it esp with uni costs but a close friend of hers had it and weren’t taking the risk

She already did it. And was eligible for the free vaccines.