Teenagers should be offered a vaccine on the NHS to protect against deadly meningitis B (menB), Government advisers have recommended.
The move from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) means youngsters should get a jab around the age of 15, with catch-up programmes for those who would otherwise miss out.
The mother of an 18-year-old who died of menB in 2023 described the recommendation as “bittersweet” and called for ministers to approve it.
It comes after a series of outbreaks of meningitis, with the most serious being in Kent earlier this year which left two teenagers dead.
The JCVI is recommending:
– A booster jab around age 15 for those who had a menB jab as a baby (those born on or after May 1 2015). The first cohort this recommendation applies to will turn 15 in 2030. Children who missed the jab as a baby will be offered two doses.
– In addition, the JCVI says it “strongly supports” giving two doses of the menB vaccine to children born on or before April 30 2015. They would get this when they are around age 15. This group were not offered the vaccine on the NHS as babies and so have missed out on protection as infants. Offering jabs when they hit their teens protects them at the point they are next most at risk.
– Because it could take a while for any programme to be implemented, the JCVI would also like to see a catch-up programme to ensure anyone who misses a vaccine does not lose out.
The recommendation is separate to the one-off programme announced last month, which about a million teenagers and young people are expected to be eligible for.
Year 13 pupils and those under 25 starting university this autumn are being offered the menB vaccine on the NHS this summer.
Appointments will begin on July 20 at pharmacies, with a second dose given in August to ensure full protection.
Professor Wei Shen Lim, chairman of the JCVI, said: “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, two doses of the menB vaccine are necessary, at least 28 days apart.
“Additionally, JCVI has now also provided Government with a recommendation and additional considerations for a future routine menB adolescent vaccination programme for those aged around 15 years.
“(The Department of Health) will now consider this with a decision to be made in due course.”
Data suggests the menB vaccine is highly effective, providing strong protection for at least five years after vaccination.
Juliette Kenny, 18, died in the Kent outbreak and her family have been campaigning for teenagers and young people to be routinely given access to the menB vaccine.
The Kent outbreak was the fastest growing and largest seen in the UK, and other smaller clusters of meningitis in young people since then have been bigger than expected.
Close and prolonged contact in halls of residence, shared homes and at social events can increase the risk of contracting menB.
Cases of menB tend to peak in October to November each year.
Dr Shamez Ladhani, consultant epidemiologist at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), has said previously the likely reason why there have been more meningitis clusters this year is that population immunity against menB is currently low.
Dr Tom Nutt, chief executive of Meningitis Now, described the recommendation as a “significant moment in the fight against meningitis”.
He added: “We have consistently called for the vaccination of this age group, who remain at increased risk of MenB disease.
“Today’s recommendation is an important step towards ensuring that far more young people are protected from this devastating disease.”
Marrissa Mullans, whose son Alfie Jake Mullans was 18 when he died of menB in 2023, has been working with Meningitis Now.
Her petition for a vaccination programme has a little under 81,500 signatures.
She told the Press Association the JCVI recommendation is “amazing” and called on ministers to agree.
“It’s bittersweet for me because I’ve lost Alfie,” Ms Mullans said.
“Had Alfie been offered this life-saving vaccine at 15, I wouldn’t be sitting here as a grieving mum.
“But in honour of my son I’ve fought every minute I’ve not been in work to raise awareness and campaign to ensure no more young people lose their lives when there’s a life-saving vaccination available.”
Mark Cheesman, whose 15-year-old daughter Zara died of menB two days before Christmas 2024, told PA: “She was vaccinated for everything else, we would have had her vaccinated for this.
“But at the same time it’s painful that if that would have been available to her at 15 she would still be alive.
“Because she was born before 2015 she didn’t have the vaccine when she was a baby.”
Mr Cheesman, from Nottingham, said Zara, who would have turned 17 earlier this week, had had the MenACWY vaccine.
This protects against four strains of meningococcal bacteria and is routinely offered to children in Year 9.
However, he said: “It really wasn’t made clear it (menB) was not covered and, more importantly, that people were dying from it.”
Last year, a coroner ruled neglect by ambulance workers contributed to Zara’s death.
Dr Nutt said: “Behind today’s recommendation are countless families whose lives have been forever changed by meningitis.
“Many have channelled their grief, loss and lived experience into tirelessly campaigning for change, determined that other families should never have to endure what they have been through.
“Today we remember all lives lost to meningitis and recognise this landmark step takes us closer to a world where no-one has to experience this devastating disease.”
Read MoreSales of energy drinks to under-16s set to be banned in England
Teenagers should get meningitis B jab on the NHS from age 15, health experts say
Woman who fundraised for own leg amputation to make history at Glasgow 2026
Overcrowded migrant dinghy pilot identified by distinctive Christmas jumper
‘Wildly original and moving reflection on history’ wins Debut Fiction Prize
British support for Ukraine ‘will not waver’ with new PM, vows Starmer
