Why is MenB vaccine not given to teenagers in UK and should they be offered it?

Key Points:

• Two people have died and 18 others confirmed with meningitis B in an unprecedented outbreak in Kent, with a targeted vaccination campaign expanded to include university students, some school pupils, and those previously offered antibiotics.
• Babies in the UK have received the MenB vaccine since 2015, but a routine NHS catch-up for teenagers was deemed not cost-effective, leading some parents to purchase the vaccine privately; teenagers currently receive the MenACWY vaccine, which does not protect against MenB.
• Antibiotics remain the primary defense during the outbreak to prevent spread, with over 13,300 doses administered; vaccination takes weeks to provide full protection, prompting health officials to extend the MenB vaccination program to thousands more at risk.
• Bereaved parents criticized poor communication regarding the limitations of the NHS meningitis vaccine for teenagers, highlighting the need for clearer information about protection gaps against MenB.
• The Health Secretary has asked the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation to reconsider meningitis vaccine eligibility for teenagers, amid concerns about the outbreak’s severity and the unique social factors contributing to its spread among young people.