MenB vaccinations

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Just a reminder to you all that our YP can get MenB vaccinations on the NHS this summer before heading off to University. They can make an appointment here: Book a Men B vaccination

They need two doses so they need to book now for the first one.

Yes I was just going to say this. Round us there are a few drop in options so hopefully won't have same issues as others with cancellations (that sounds annoying)

My older DC is going abroad next year and will be back in halls with lots of other international students. Not eligible for free jabs but I'm considering paying for it in the circs. (It's expensive privately though - I was seeing £260 for the 2 shots!)

I paid to have ds vaccinated, two days before they annnounced the public vaccination program, which was a bit annoying, but now glad I did it as his best friend has had his appointment cancelled, apparently vaccine doses hadn't arrived.

Yes, £240 for two shots.

Just had appointment cancelled for a second time, seems there’s an issue with actually getting it to pharmacies.

My ds had his ok at our local pharmacy yesterday

Has he had any side effects? Keen to get it done this week as we go on holiday at the weekend. We’re in the middle of nowhere though so I’m starting to feel doubtful it’ll get delivered in time!!

Just a sore arm. We are going away in a few days as well and I did think twice about booking it for Monday but they need a second one after at least four weeks so decided to risk it ti get them both done before uni starts

Does anyone know if it's available for uni students going into year 2? Tried book for ds who is 22 but couldn't seem too book him in

I’ve just had an email to book DD in with our GP to get it.

Great that GPs are being used here in NI and that they are contacting people rather than leaving it up to individuals to know about it and sort it out themselves.

Not so great that they only offered 1 day - no other options - and it’s mid August. Thankfully DD is around the day they offered (DH and I are away) although she is committed to volunteering at a local event that day so is going to have to go back to the organisers and let them know that she’ll be late. They only offered afternoon appointments and she’s meant to be at the event from 12.30pm.

It means that she’ll just be getting her second dose a week before she leaves for uni across the water so I really hope there are no further delays. Also a bit pissed off as it takes 2 weeks post second vaccine to reach optimum immunity and she won’t have that.

I think I’ll call the GP and see if there are any earlier options available

No, at the moment it’s for the age group who’ve just finished year 13 or anyone going into their first year of uni.

Since there’s a shortage of vaccines, they’ve made the assumption that 2nd years will be in houses, rather than halls (which they’ve deemed as a higher risk for spreading).

We have a very good school vaccine programme , for hpv, dtap menawcy, flu and anything they are not up to date on. In Scotland our schools team run this, men b was not on the schedule for secondary school children only currently was 8/12 weeks for men b.

As this is new for these age groups there will be some teething issues rolling it out with venues and staffing as it’s likely going to be run alongside adult shingles/pneumonia/rsv etc I’d make sure your young person gets it early as flu vaccines will start in sept so likely will be much busier in vaccine centres. Scotlands vaccine delivery system is different to England so I’m not sure how they will manage that if it’s gp lead…I’m glad it’s been added but also glad I’m in a pre school team I prefer the wee ones 😊 hope everyone who wants it gets it promptly

That's annoying. He is back in halls for year two. Mind you with the state of his flat when I picked him up he might need a tetanus and rabies shot. We are looking to get it privately

Money I guess. I’ve just had my 20yo done privately. My 18yo was free on NHS.

Keep trying different places. I got my 20yo done

Sorry I meant keep trying private places for the older student.

DD is booked in for Friday - not been cancelled as yet. Really glad the NHS is doing it as had just enquired to pay privately. Glad to hear a sore arm is the worst side affect.

My son had his today. He’s had a gap year so couldn’t book via the link. Was a bit of a faff getting pharmacists to understand he couldn’t use the link but all good now. He actually had the vaccine privately 9 years ago but I was advised he’d need two new shots to be covered properly again.

Our 25 year old daughter asked about it because she is off travelling in September.
She's starting in China but was told by the practice nurse that it wasn't recommended for that area.
Can anyone shed some light on why?

Has anyone had their DC at 6th form college vaccinated? DD is 16 and I'm contemplating it (privately), but presumably that means it will start to wane when she starts uni in 2 years?

I asked our pharmacist about getting DD(21) vaccinated before 3rd year. They were quite dismissive, as though I was being neurotic.

😠 That’s a poor attitude. Kids have died.

FYI if you child is older than the normal university year one cohort then they can not book it online. So if they have had a gap year or delayed started university for any reason the only way is to book direct with the pharmacy. This is not an easy thing to do as often pharmacies never answer the phone and I think they have had stock issues and are prioritising prebooked so I had a few refuse walkin’s. Eventually I found a pharmacist who told me to just bring it down as their booking system is the same as the one that we can’t book on so they couldn’t book it either. Dd has had her first dose and we were able to book for her second dose. She was fine just a bit tired today and a slightly sore arm. I’m soo glad we could get it done but no idea why all eligible students couldn’t book online!

I suppose they have no way of knowing who is and who isn't going into 1st year of uni.

DD (21) is going to be sharing a flat with her boyfriend. Just the two of them. However, they're amongst the most sociable people on earth so mix with lots of other students. I think I'm going to cough up the £200+

My teens had 2 shots of the Menb vaccination, 2nd one was Jan 2024 so they are covered.

Having looked it up though, info about how long the vaccine lasts varies quite wildly from 1-5 yrs, but the consensus is that after 25 you don't get it and there's no "booster" schedule.

So I am hoping that my 18 and 19 yr olds will be covered enough by what they've had.

No side effects, btw, because I know people asked about that one. Each has had horrible side effects from flu jabs and covid jabs (4 days illness including endless vommitting for that last one) Nothing for this tho.