Starting uni? What to know about having the free NHS meningitis B jab

Starting uni? What to know about having the free NHS meningitis B jab High street pharmacies across England are now offering a free meningitis B vaccine to large numbers of young people. The move follows concerns about the UK’s largest and fastest‑growing outbreak, which occurred in Kent earlier this year. **What's the vaccine and is it safe?** The vaccine protects against meningitis B (MenB), the strain responsible for the Kent outbreak. It contains no live bacteria and cannot cause meningitis. Common reactions include swelling, redness or tenderness at the injection site, as well as mild fever, nausea, headache or muscle aches; these usually disappear within one or two days. More serious side effects are rare. **Who can get the MenB vaccine?** Appointments can be booked at participating pharmacies from Monday 13 July, with the first slots available from Monday 20 July. Seventeen‑ and eighteen‑year‑olds who are already registered with a GP may use the NHS National Booking Service. Other students under 25 who are heading to a residential university or college for the first time this autumn can also arrange a walk‑in dose at a pharmacy. You are eligible for a walk‑in MenB jab if you were born on or after 21 July 2001 and, for the first time this autumn, you are either starting university or beginning a residential further‑education course. International students and those from Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man who will study in England are likewise eligible, as are anyone travelling abroad to study. No GP registration is required for the walk‑in service. A list of participating pharmacies is available here. The vaccine is administered as two doses spaced at least 28 days apart. It is being offered to 17‑ and 18‑year‑olds in sixth form and to students under 25 who are entering residential university or college for the first time this autumn. Both doses are required for optimal protection. Eligible cohorts in England include: - people born between 1 September 2007 and 31 August 2008 - people born on or after 21 July 2001 who are starting university for the first time this autumn - people born on or after 21 July 2001 who are beginning residential further‑education colleges for the first time this autumn **Why are students advised to get the vaccine?** Health officials described the March meningitis outbreak in Kent as unprecedented and explosive. Within weeks, 29 confirmed or suspected cases and two deaths were recorded. The one‑off campaign aims to shield those at highest risk and prevent a recurrence. NHS England states that first‑year university students face a risk roughly seven times greater than peers of the same age who do not attend university. Meningitis spreads through close contact—kissing, sharing vapes or drinks, or living in shared accommodation. UK health officials note that the heightened risk for 18‑year‑olds and first‑time university or residential‑college entrants stems from increased social mixing and communal living arrangements. MenB infection can cause severe, life‑threatening complications, including inflammation of the brain lining (meningitis) and blood poisoning (sepsis). It may lead to amputations, hearing loss, brain damage and, in some cases, death. Vaccination can prevent these outcomes. The MenB vaccine entered the UK NHS childhood immunisation programme for babies born on or after 1 July 2015; all infants now receive it. Consequently, teenagers and young adults over the age of 1