The programme has been introduced in response to recent meningitis outbreaks while a full review of the evidence by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation is underway.
Eligible students will need two doses of the MenB vaccine for protection, with the first being offered from late July and the second dose from August.
The one-off vaccination programme will be offered to:
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- Everyone in England and Wales born between 01/09/2007 and 31/08/2008 (current school year 13) or equivalent final year of school age (Year 14 or S6) in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
- Everyone turning 25 after 31/12/2026 who will be starting higher education for the first time, or who will be living in further education accommodation or halls of residence for the first time, in autumn 2026. This includes international students and students in the UK Devolved Administrations and Crown Dependencies.
- International students under 25 entering their first year of university should receive their first dose in their home country where possible.
Eligible people will need two doses for protection, with the first being offered from July and the second dose provided from August.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has published a Q&A style blog to answer questions about the programme – see below.
The national booking system will go live on July 13 in England.
