Young people in Cheshire West and Chester urged to take advantage of summer meningitis vaccine

Certain young people in Cheshire West and Chester will be offered a vaccine this summer to protect them from life-threatening illnesses like meningitis and septicaemia.

A new one-off, time limited MenB vaccine programme has been announced by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to help protect people going to university or living in halls at a further education college for the first time.

Professor Helen Bromley, Director of Public Health at Cheshire West and Chester Council, said:

“We know that, after infancy, the highest number of cases of meningococcal disease are seen in 18 and 19-year-olds, and students in their first year of university have a risk that’s around seven times higher than others in their age group that do not go to university.

“Meningococcal group B can cause illnesses like meningitis and septicaemia, which can both lead to sepsis.

“This is why it is so important that anyone who is eligible takes up the offer of the vaccine this summer, making sure they get the two doses needed for full protection before the autumn.”

Those eligible for the vaccine include:

• young people currently in school Year 13 in England and Wales (born between 1 September 2007 and 31 August 2008), in year S6 in Scotland (born between 01 March 2008 and 28 February 2009) and in year 14 in Northern Ireland born between 02 July 2007 and 01 July 2008 
• all undergraduate freshers who turn 25 after 31 December 2026 who will be attending university for the first time in autumn 2026 
• anyone who turns 25 after 31 December 2026 and who will be living in further education accommodation or halls of residence for the first time in autumn 2026 

This includes international students who may not arrive in the UK until September. 

Young people in the eligible groups will have been offered MenACWY vaccine at school in Year 9 or Year 10. This vaccine protects against other kinds of meningococcal bacteria but will not help protect against MenB disease.

First doses of the MenB vaccine will be offered from late July, and second doses from August.

Students in the age group for Year 13 will be contacted by the NHS and sent a link through which they can book a pharmacy appointment to get the vaccine.

Online booking opens on Monday 13th July at: 

www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/vaccination-and-booking-services/book-menb-vaccination 

Anyone aged 24 or under and starting university or some types of residential further education can only get a vaccination at a walk-in vaccination site. This service will open on Monday 20 July.

For more information search online for UKHSA MenB vaccine.