Meningitis B: UK launches vaccine programme to protect students after fatal outbreaks

Thousands of young people across England, Wales, and Scotland will be offered the meningitis B (MenB) vaccine for the first time this summer.123Eligible students—those finishing year 13 this summer (aged 17 and 18), together with people under 25 starting university or other residential further education—will be offered two doses of the vaccine, at least four weeks apart, before they start further education this autumn.The programme is being launched after the major outbreak seen in Kent in March, which led to two deaths.4The Department of Health and Social Care described the outbreak as the “fastest growing and largest ever seen in the UK” but said there had also been “more clusters than normal this year, some of which have been bigger than expected.”Young people eligible for the vaccine will be contacted directly through the NHS app, text, email, or letter, depending on records held by the health service.Announcing the expanded vaccination…