One million students urged to get free Meningitis B jabs after deadly outbreak

One million students urged to get free Meningitis B jabs after deadly outbreak Since the scheme was launched on July 20, fewer than 100,000 youngsters have had the two-part Meningitis B vaccination Students have been issued an urgent warning to get free Meningitis B jabs as soon as possible. Health experts say young people need to act now so they will be protected against the killer disease when university terms start next month. A million youngsters in England are eligible for a two-dose vaccination available at local pharmacies as part of a new NHS campaign. The one-off programme was launched after three students died earlier this year in separate clusters in Kent and Berkshire. A further cluster was recorded in Weymouth, Dorset. But since the scheme was launched on July 20, fewer than 100,000 youngsters have had the two-part vaccination. Pharmacist Wendy Lee of Well Pharmacy said: “Starting university means youngsters are meeting lots of new people and often living in close-contact settings such as halls of residence, where infections can spread more easily. “MenB can become serious very quickly, and vaccination is a simple way to give students and parents peace of mind before they head off to university. “A big thing to remember is this is not a single vaccination. The course requires two doses given at least four weeks apart. “So, we encourage students and parents to book now so they are protected rather than waiting until university is about to start.” The jabs are available to young people who were in Year 13 during the 2025/26 academic year, first-time university students under 25 who will be living in halls or other residential accommodation, and international students under 25 starting at university this year. Meningitis B is a serious bacterial infection that can cause life-threatening meningitis and septicaemia within hours of infection. One in 10 cases are fatal. During the cluster in Kent in March, two young people died, including 18 – year-old A-level student Juliette Kenny. A second victim, a 21-year-old student at the University of Kent, was not publicly named at the family’s request. In May 2026, 17-year-old Lewis Waters died from the infection during a separate cluster in the Reading area of Berkshire. The Kent outbreak, described as unprecedented by then-Health Secretary Wes Streeting, was linked to an event at a nightclub in Canterbury. Meningitis can develop rapidly and early symptoms can sometimes be mistaken for flu or other illnesses. Symptoms may include a temperature, headache, vomiting, muscle pain, cold hands and feet, confusion, drowsiness, a stiff neck, dislike of bright lights and a rash that does not fade under pressure. Anyone concerned about symptoms should seek urgent medical help. Pharmacists can provide advice on the signs and symptoms of meningitis, when to seek urgent medical care and whether patients are eligible for the free NHS Meningitis B vaccination. The jab is available at participating pharmacies, including those run by Well, in England. Students and parents can check eligibility and find their nearest pharmacy through the NHS website. For those who are not eligible for the NHS programme, vaccination is also available privately at many pharmacies.