The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has called for a catch up MenB vaccine programme for teenagers.
The scientific advisory committee was earlier told to review the vaccine routine after an unprecedented outbreak of MenB disease in Kent this year.
It has suggested offering a single dose of the 4CMenB vaccine at approximately 15 years of age to those who already received the jab during infancy.
The suggestion was made based on the recent evidence related to MenB vaccination, particularly on the effectiveness of an additional single dose of vaccine in adolescents who had received MenB vaccine in infancy.
These individuals are referred to as ‘primed adolescents’ and specifically include people born on or after 1 May 2015.
The first cohort of individuals this recommendation would apply to those who would turn 15 years of age in 2030.
Two doses
The JCVI supports two doses of MenB vaccine for adolescents born on or before 30 April 2015 (‘unprimed adolescents’) at around 15 years of age.
Adolescents who would be either too young to be offered MenB vaccination as part of the one-off 2026 offer (announced 12 June 2026), or too old to be offered vaccination through the 15-year-old programmes outlined above.
Wei Shen Lim, Chair of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, said, "Following the meningitis outbreaks in early 2026, a one-off programme for 2-doses of MenB vaccine is being offered to eligible young people this summer. We encourage everyone who is eligible to book an appointment online to receive the vaccine at a local pharmacy, in time for the second dose to be received before heading off to university or college. For protection, 2-doses of the MenB vaccine are necessary, at least 28 days apart."
NPA welcomes recommendations
The National Pharmacy Association has welcomed JCVI's recommendations on MenB vaccine programme for teenagers.
NPA chair Olivier Picard said, "It is good news that the JCVI has listened to the calls from the NPA, charities, patients and other organisations to introduce a catch up MenB vaccine for those who have missed out as babies as well as a booster for those born after 2015 who had a dose as a baby.
"There is clearly a gap in our national vaccination strategy and recent outbreaks have shown the awful impact this illness can have on those who contract it.
"Pharmacies are already set to deliver an historic vaccination campaign for people about to go to university and stand ready, willing and able to deliver MenB vaccines to eligible teenagers on the NHS at speed."
