Meningitis B vaccine - NHS Rollout

[snowymarbles]

Great news but a little bit frustrating on timing given I paid privately and am due second dose next week!

https://news.sky.com/story/meningitis-b-jab-to-be-offered-to-one-million-young-people-13553085?fbclid=IwZnRzaASZDN9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeSx4uq6hO12vBW8LfLN7AVN4GbsOPY163GBNzI7HRX6SD4puPrgeZm-IEt1w_aem_0KuJixqDypAJhJIa5qbglw

I agree it’s great news and needs to be done. I also paid privately and my DD had her first dose last month. I hope they have enough resource for young people to have it done before they head off to university.

I’ve sent to my dd and told her to share with friends - I know not all are able to afford to fund it privately.

Sadly, it’s only for year 13 children and those under 25 who are about to go to university. It’s also only a one off programme.

I was planning to get dd vaccinated this summer before uni but was waiting to see if they rolled it out. Very happy to not have to spend the money as uni is expensive enough.

Is it definitely just a one off programme @Batties ?

fs is in year 13 but deferring his university place until 2027. My initial thought was for him to accept the vaccine this year which we’ll definitely do if the offer won’t be repeated

It is a one off but it’s being offered to all year 13’s even if not off to university. So looks like your dc will be covered.

Thanks so much for posting this. I just sent it to DS.

Marking place as I have one off to uni

Will they be able to get it at their normal GP surgery?

@Girliefriendlikespuppiesit will depend how the service is commissioned locally. I'm retired from general practice now and our vaccines are all given centrally to take pressure of GP services here in Scotland but sometimes health boards get GPs to do them. England is quite different

According to the BBC, it looks like
they will be taking place at community pharmacies rather than GP surgeries. Year 13’s will be contacted directly.

Doesn’t sound like it.

https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2026/06/12/who-is-eligible-for-the-new-one-off-menb-vaccine-programme/. UKHSA post with more detail. Disappointing it doesn’t include existing students.

Has anyone’s DD/DS had an email inviting them for vaccine? Time is getting on and two doses are needed before uni starts.

Yes.

We had a message from the school and arranged it with the local pharmacy 😊

I’ve not heard anything yet…

My ds got an invitation last week. Just had a QR code and can go to any of the walk in clinics. We're in Scotland and he's off to uni in September so the timing is great. It was definitely a worry.

That’s good that they are starting to come through. Hopefully we don’t have to wait too long.

How did the invitation come? I need to get ds to check my

I'm in Scotland and DS got his first one at a walk in clinic yesterday. He only got his letter Thursday and there had been at least one clinic here earlier in the week. Loads of his pals didn't even know about it. A lot are on holiday. It seems a bit disorganised. We are NHS Lothian and you can check online where the drop ins are and just turn up.

Letter by post

DS had a letter from our local Health Board by post inviting him to ring and book an appointment which he has done.

BBC breakfast have been discussing this morning. There is a booking link within this article.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgmyggpg42o

So dc went up for the prebooked appointment and they hadn’t been sent any, no info or anything. Have had to call round and find a walk in pharmacy so will have to leave work to drive him as it’s miles away.