16 June 2026
Dear colleagues,
Urgent, time-limited Meningococcal B (MenB) vaccination: for all those with a date of birth between 1 September 2007 and 31 August 2008 (current year 13 age group) and those aged less than 25 years who will be attending undergraduate higher education or living in further education accommodation or halls of residence for the first time in autumn 2026 (hereafter referred to as ‘HERFE entrants’).
This letter is for those responsible for commissioning and operationally delivering the national NHS routine vaccination programme. Please share this guidance with all those involved in delivering the programme in your area.
Following the unprecedented MenB outbreak, primarily among University of Kent students in March 2026, and clusters in Weymouth and Reading more recently, this letter outlines a new one-off and time-limited offer of MenB vaccination to those considered at highest risk. The aim is to vaccinate individuals before the start of the 2026/2027 academic year and the peak season for MenB in autumn 2026. Those entering university for the first time and who are under the age of 25 are considered at highest risk from MenB disease. Community pharmacies will be commissioned to deliver this one-off programme.
As 2 doses of the Bexsero® (4CMenB) vaccine are required for protection, it is important to start offering vaccination as soon as is practicably possible. This is to ensure those entering higher education and residential further education settings for the first time in the next academic year have the opportunity to be fully vaccinated prior to the start or early in their first term. The Bexsero® vaccine provides good individual protection against most, but not all, strains of MenB bacteria causing disease in the UK. The vaccine does not help to reduce spread to the wider population, and as it cannot prevent all causes of meningitis or septicaemia, awareness of signs and symptoms remains important.
Key points about the programme
1. From 20 July 2026, MenB vaccination should be offered to individuals in any of the following categories:
- all individuals born between 1 September 2007 and 31 August 2008 (current school year 13 age group)
- individuals who turn 25 years of age after 31 December 2026 (born on or after 1 January 2002) and are due to start undergraduate higher education in autumn 2026, including international students and those from the UK devolved administrations and Crown Dependencies
- individuals who turn 25 years of age between 21 July 2026 and 31 December 2026 (born between 21 July 2001 and 31 December 2001) inclusive and are due to start undergraduate higher education in autumn 2026, including international students and those from the UK devolved administrations and Crown Dependencies
- individuals who turn 25 years of age after 31 December 2026 (born on or after 1 January 2002) and will be living in further education accommodation or halls of residence for the first time in autumn 2026, including international students and those from the UK devolved administrations and Crown Dependencies
- individuals who turn 25 years of age between 21 July 2026 and 31 December 2026 (born between 21 July 2001 and 31 December 2001) inclusive and will be living in further education accommodation or halls of residence for the first time in autumn 2026, including international students and those from the UK devolved administrations and Crown Dependencies
2. Exclusions include:
- those aged less than 25 years, who are not entering HERFE for the first time in the autumn term 2026, and fall outside the current year 13 age group specified above
- postgraduates and other students who are not entering HERFE for the first time in the autumn term of 2026
- those who have completed a 2-dose course of Bexsero® within the last 5 years
- those who have completed a 2-dose (provided those doses were given at least 6 months apart) or 3-dose course of Trumenba® within the last 5 years
3. This is a time-limited offer (with first doses offered until 31 December 2026 and second doses offered until 31 March 2027). This enables late attendees and international students who arrive in the UK after the summer months, to accept the offer of 2 doses.
4. Two doses are necessary for protection. The second dose should be offered a minimum of 28 days after the first dose. First doses should be offered as early as possible to ensure completion of the course prior to the start of the 2026/2027 academic year.
5. Vaccination will be provided through participating community pharmacies. Further operational guidance for community pharmacy contractors will follow.
6. Invitations will be issued for those born between 1 September 2007 and 31 August 2008, with self-referrals for those less than 25 years of age entering HERFE for the first time.
7. Commissioners and providers should ensure they have robust plans in place to identify and address health inequalities for all underserved groups, including through use of tailored and/or translated information resources to support informed consent.
8. Providers should strongly advise individuals of the importance of booking and returning for a second dose. They should remind them of the need to be vigilant for signs and symptoms of meningitis and sepsis. Posters and digital display graphics are available to order free of charge (see Annex A).
Annex A provides detailed information, guidance and resources for healthcare professionals to support programme implementation.
For any clinical or operational queries, please contact your NHS England Regional Public Health Commissioning Team in the first instance. For queries about supporting programme resources, please email immunisation@ukhsa.gov.uk.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in commissioning and operationally delivering the national NHS vaccination programme.
Yours sincerely,
Caroline Temmink, Director of Vaccination, NHS England
Dr Mary Ramsay CBE, Director of Public Health Programmes (including immunisation), UK Health Security Agency
