Meningitis FAQ: MenB vaccine offer

Who are the groups that the vaccine has been expanded to?

Anyone in the following groups who has been offered preventative antibiotics (also known as prophylaxis) is being offered the MenB vaccine. At the present time, this includes anyone who is resident in, or who attends a school or other educational setting in Weymouth, Portland or Chickerell to come forward for preventative antibiotic treatment as a precautionary measure:

• Anyone currently in school years 7 to 13 (or equivalent), OR
• Anyone not in full time education but who were aged 11 to 17 on 31 August 2025 (this might mean you are now 18)

Where can I get the vaccine from?

Letters will be sent out to eligible students from their school with further details about how they can get the vaccination. For now, the priority is to take up antibiotics to reduce the risk of disease.

My child does not go to one of the schools with a confirmed or probable case but has friends or a sibling in that school. Can they get a vaccine?

No – antibiotics are not needed at the current time unless they are offered antibiotics as a close contact of a case.

Can immunosuppressed family members of eligible children get the vaccine?

Vaccination is being offered as a precautionary measure but the risk of infection to the wider population, including family members of those eligible, remains low. If you are not a close contact of a case, there is nothing specific that you need to do. You do not need antibiotics or vaccination, and you can go to work/school or other usual activities as normal.

Separately, if you have no spleen (asplenia) or a spleen that doesn’t work properly (splenic dysfunction) or have complement deficiency (a specific part of your immune system doesn’t work because of a condition or treatment, like eculizumab) then you are at higher risk of meningococcal infection and therefore are routinely eligible for NHS MenB and MenACWY vaccines.

How and when can my child access the second dose?

The second dose is usually 4-6 weeks after the first one for maximum effectiveness. We will be sending out further information regarding vaccination dates for second doses where required to students within the next few days.

I am eligible for the vaccine as I have been offered antibiotics, but I do not attend any of the schools. How do I get vaccinated?

If you are eligible for a vaccine, you should be able to access the MenB vaccine through a GP surgery and arrangements are being made to ensure that you can receive the vaccine. Further information on how you can receive the vaccination will be provided in due course.

Why are only some people being offered the vaccine?

The targeted vaccination programme is an additional precaution in response to these cases and provides longer term protection where there is a likelihood of ongoing circulation and reintroduction of the bacteria to an identified population.

The vaccination programme may be expanded further to other groups as UKHSA continues to assess any ongoing risk to other populations. Any expansion to other groups will be communicated separately over the coming days as required.

Is it compulsory for people to have the vaccination?

Vaccinations in England are not compulsory. If you are offered the vaccine, it is strongly recommended that students take up this offer.

Do I need the vaccine if I’ve already taken antibiotics?

Antibiotics are the best course of action if you have been exposed to meningococcal bacteria through close contact with someone infected. It does not protect you from further exposure and potential infection with meningococcal bacteria in the future. Vaccination offers longer-term protection against becoming seriously unwell with meningococcal disease.

Does the vaccine protect me against all types of meningococcal disease?

No. Meningococcal disease can have many causes, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. In the UK, most cases are due to bacteria or viruses. There are several vaccines offered free by the NHS as part of the routine childhood vaccination programme that can help protect against certain causes of meningitis, including the MenB and the MenACWY vaccine, which protect against different strains of meningococcal bacteria.

The MenB vaccination offers good protection against some strains of meningitis but not all. No vaccine is 100% effective and so students should still be aware of the signs and symptoms of meningitis (and sepsis/septicaemia) alongside the available vaccines.

Whilst the meningococcal strain identified in this outbreak has been identified as MenB, it is important that if anyone has missed their MenACWY vaccine that they get a catch-up vaccine at their GP practice to protect them from other strains that can cause bacterial meningitis.

At this time, it is recommended to check that all vaccinations are up to date and catch up on any missed doses you are eligible for. Other vaccine preventable diseases can lead to meningitis, such as measles for which the NHS offers protection with the MMR vaccine as part of the routine childhood immunisation schedule.

Is the vaccine safe?

The MenB vaccine has been thoroughly tested and meets strict safety criteria. It has been routinely used in the infant vaccination programme in the UK since 2015 and has led to 75% reduction in MenB disease in vaccinated groups. The MenB vaccine has a good safety profile.

Are there any side effects from the MenB vaccine?

The MenB vaccine (Bexsero) has been thoroughly tested and meets strict safety criteria. Vaccines offered by the NHS are thoroughly tested to assess how safe and effective they are. Like all medicines, the MenB vaccine can have side effects but not everyone gets them. It shows the vaccine is teaching the body’s immune system how to protect itself from the disease.

Common side effects of the MenB vaccine are usually mild and do not last long – but the diseases the vaccines protect against can be severe and even kill. Common side effects can include:

• A fever
• Redness, swelling or tenderness around the infection site
• Nausea, diarrhoea, headache malaise and muscle pain

These normally clear up within 1 or 2 days of vaccination. You can take a dose of over-the-counter paracetamol to alleviate symptoms if you have them. More serious side effects are very rare.

How soon after vaccination will I be protected?

It takes at least 2 weeks from your second dose of vaccine for your body to produce antibodies to give you a good level of protection.

Will the MenB vaccine be offered to anyone else?

The vaccination programme may be expanded further to other groups as UKHSA continues to assess any ongoing risk to other populations. Any expansion to other groups will be communicated separately over the coming days if required.

Will there be a national MenB vaccination programme?

Routine vaccination against MenB for babies and young children was introduced in 2015, so children born since May 2015 will already have received the vaccine at their 8 weeks, 12 weeks and 1 year appointments. If your child has missed any of their MenB vaccines, they can still have the MenB vaccine up to the age of 2.

In light of the Kent outbreak, the Health Secretary has also asked the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) to re-examine eligibility for the MenBvaccine.

UKHSA continues to assess any ongoing risk to other populations.

Where can I find more information and support?

NHS: www.nhs.uk/conditions/meningitis

Meningitis Research Foundation: www.meningitis.org | 0808 800 3344 (24 hours)

Meningitis Now: www.meningitisnow.org | 0808 80 10 388 (9am–8pm)

Is the government using private supply for this rollout of the vaccine?

The UK has a good stockpile of vaccines for use in the NHS to vaccinate against Meningitis B. We are looking to support pharmacies and private providers to improve their supply and make their supply chains more resilient.

How do we know the vaccine will work against this strain?

The MenB vaccine has been thoroughly tested and meets strict safety criteria. It has been routinely used in the infant vaccination programme in the UK since 2015 and has led to 75% reduction in MenB disease in vaccinated groups. The MenB vaccine has a good safety profile.

Are individuals who received the gonorrhoea vaccine protected against the strain in this outbreak?

Yes – the vaccine used to prevent gonorrhoea is the 4CMenB (Bexsero) vaccination which covers the MenB outbreak strain.

Is the UKHSA redirecting supplies of the vaccine used for gonorrhoea prevention to support the meningitis outbreak response?

No – as the government has sufficient supplies for the outbreak response.

Are additional scenarios being considered to manage outbreak?

The incubation period for this disease is up to 10 days and UKHSA remains alert to the possibility of secondary cases.

UKHSA is working rapidly to identify and contact trace all those who may have been in close contact with confirmed cases. Where appropriate, prophylactic antibiotics are being offered to close contacts to reduce the risk of further transmission.

We are also preparing for a range of scenarios working closely with NHS England and local authorities across the country to ensure enhanced surveillance is in place. Any new cases will be identified quickly and responded to.

What if further cases are identified outside Weymouth?

Every year in this country more than 350 cases of meningococcal infection are reported – that’s equivalent to almost one a day. Therefore, we would expect to see other cases of meningococcal infection around the country, which are not connected at all to thi situation. It is also why it is important that everyone remains aware of the signs and symptoms of the infection and seeks rapid medical attention if they are concerned.