UK GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES MENINGITIS B VACCINE PROGRAMME FOR TEENS

The UK government has announced a one-off vaccination programme offering meningitis B protection to school leavers and new university students. The programme will provide two doses of a vaccine to teenagers in their final school year and young people starting university. It is due to begin in late July.

The announcement follows an unprecedented outbreak of meningitis B across Kent, Dorset and Berkshire. The outbreaks killed three people. The programme has been designated as a one-off response to the recent surge in cases across those areas.

The rollout targets two groups considered at heightened risk: older secondary school pupils preparing to leave education and those entering higher education. Offering two doses is intended to build sufficient protection ahead of the academic year. The programme represents a direct public health response to the confirmed fatalities and regional outbreaks identified in the source material.