The UK government has announced that school leavers and new university students will be offered the meningitis B vaccine from September, in a bid to protect against the deadly bacterial infection. The move follows recommendations from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) and aims to reduce cases among young adults, who are at higher risk.
Vaccination Programme Details
The vaccine will be administered to teenagers in school Year 13 and to first-time university students up to the age of 25. The programme is expected to cover around 800,000 individuals annually. Health officials say the vaccine is safe and effective, with studies showing it can prevent up to 80% of meningitis B cases.
Why This Age Group?
Young adults, particularly those living in close quarters like university halls, are at increased risk of contracting meningitis B. The infection can cause severe brain damage and kill within hours. Currently, the vaccine is only offered to infants, but the JCVI has now extended its recommendation to older teens.
Government and Health Officials Respond
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: "This vaccination programme will save lives and prevent devastating long-term health impacts. We are committed to protecting young people from this terrible disease." Dr. Shamez Ladhani, a consultant epidemiologist at the UK Health Security Agency, added: "Meningitis B can strike quickly and without warning. Vaccination is the best defence."
The programme will be delivered through schools and universities, with additional catch-up doses available via GP surgeries. The government has allocated £10 million for the rollout. Charities such as Meningitis Now have welcomed the decision, calling it a "landmark moment" in the fight against the disease.
