Book your MenB vaccine before 31 December

Free for eligible students.

Two doses protect against most MenB disease, a cause of meningitis and septicaemia.

Why it matters (and why now)

This is a one-off, time-limited offer. First doses end on 31 December 2026. There is no guarantee of another free opportunity, so please do not pass this one up.

MenB causes meningitis and septicaemia, which can lead to amputation, brain damage or death, and people can become seriously ill within hours.

First-year students have about seven times the risk of people the same age who do not attend university. In March 2026, an outbreak in Kent caused 21 confirmed cases and two deaths. 

This isn't the one from school

This is not the meningitis jab you had at school. The vaccine offered in Year 9 or 10 is MenACWY. It protects against groups A, C, W and Y. It does not protect against group B (MenB), which needs its own vaccine. MenB vaccine has been routine only for infants, since 2015, so most students starting this year have not had it.

Who is eligible

• Born between 1 September 2007 and 31 August 2008; or
• under 25 (born on or after 21 July 2001) and starting higher education for the first time this autumn.

International students in the second group are eligible regardless of nationality or immigration status. UKHSA advises a first dose in your home country where possible; if you did not have one, you can still book here. 

How to book

Book at nhs.uk/book-menb, or visit a participating pharmacy. You need two doses, at least 28 days apart. The first dose must be given by 31 December 2026; the second by 31 March 2027. Protection builds about two weeks after the second dose.

Know the signs

The vaccine does not cover every cause of meningitis and septicaemia. Early symptoms can resemble a bad case of flu. Look out for:

• fever, shivering, or very cold hands and feet
• severe headache, vomiting, stiff neck, or dislike of bright light
• confusion, severe sleepiness, or seizures
• severe pain in the limbs or joints, or difficulty walking or standing
• pale or blotchy skin, or rapid breathing
• a rash that does not fade under pressure (do the glass test; on darker skin, check inside the eyelids or the roof of the mouth)

Do not wait for a rash. If you or a friend may have meningitis or septicaemia, go to the nearest Accident and Emergency department or call 999. If someone goes to bed unwell, check on them regularly.