Skip to main content

Meningitis

This information has been provided by the Public Health Protection Unit (PHPU) to GP Practices on the back of the recent meningitis outbreak in Kent.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) are issuing a communication to universities across the UK and this will be supplemented by a local communication provided by PHPU to higher education settings and local authority education departments.

NHS Vaccination schedule
The NHS inform pages include the vaccination schedules for children and young
people. This includes the following meningitis vaccinations:

  • the Men B vaccination at 8 weeks, 12 weeks and 12 months
  • the MenACWY vaccination during the S3 school year (aged 13 or 14)

The MenB vaccination is offered to children under 2 who may have missed
appointments in their first year, but is not available on the NHS for children over 2.
Young people aged up to 25 are eligible to catch up on the MenACWY vaccination if they
have missed this.

Responses to FAQ from patients

  1. How can I check what vaccines my child has had?
    The Public Health Department do not hold vaccine records. The first step to checking
    your child’s vaccination history would be to look at their Red Book, but if you do not
    have this, then you should ask your health visitor (for children under 5) or your child’s
    GP practice who can contact Child Health to request your child’s vaccination records.
  2. Can I get a vaccine for MenB on the NHS?
    The MenB vaccine is part of the routine NHS childhood immunisation programme and is
    offered to infants. Those under the age of 2 who have missed a Men B vaccine, are
    eligible for this in a catch-up form. For older children, teenagers, and adults, the MenB
    vaccine is not routinely offered on the NHS. There are a number of private providers
    available who will be able to administer Men B vaccine. You will understand that we
    cannot recommend any one private provider over another.
  3. What about MenACVWY vaccination?
    There are numerous strains of the meningococcal infection. The MenACWY vaccination
    gives good protection against MenA, MenC, MenW, and MenY. This vaccination is
    routinely offered in the UK to school pupils aged 13 or 14, but students and young adults
    who have not previously had the MenACWY vaccine may be eligible to receive it up to
    age 25. If anyone eligible has missed their Men ACWY vaccination, their GP can make a
    referral for this.
    Additionally, for students attending universities in Glasgow, the NHS Greater Glasgow
    and Clyde Immunisations team run clinics on campus at the start of term offering
    vaccinations for eligible students who might have missed these.
  4. My teenage child has never had a meningitis vaccine – can they get one?
    Children aged 13 or 14 will be offered the MenACWY vaccination as part of the national
    routine schedule. Children who have missed this can catch up by being referred via their
    GP.

The NHS does not provide MenB vaccination out with the national routine schedule.