Meningitis vaccination
Can meningitis be prevented?
Several vaccines offered free of charge by the NHS can help protect against certain causes of meningitis and septicaemia:
- MenB vaccine: For babies given at 8 weeks, 12 weeks, and 1 year
- 6-in-1 vaccine: For babies given at 8, 12 and 16 weeks
- Pneumococcal vaccine: Two doses for babies given at 16 weeks and 1 year; single dose for adults aged 65+
- Hib/MenC vaccine: For babies given at 1 year (if born on or before 30 June 2024)
- MMR vaccine: For babies given at 1 year, with a second dose at 18 months
- MenACWY vaccine: For teenagers aged 13 to 14
Am I protected from MenB by childhood vaccines (MenACWY)?
The MenB vaccine was added to the NHS immunisation schedule for infants in 2015, providing protection for babies and young children in the UK. It is separate from the MenACWY.
If you are a teenager or young adult born before 1 May 2015, you will not have received the MenB vaccine as part of the NHS schedule.
Can I have the MenB vaccine privately?
The MenB vaccine can be accessed privately through high street pharmacies, private GP providers and travel clinics. For those aged over 2 years, the vaccination course consists of 2 doses.
For further information from the NHS, click here
