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  3. Meningitis Information

Meningitis Information

Meningitis is a serious infection which can be life-threatening. Vaccines can prevent the most common types of bacterial meningitis: A, C, W, Y, and B.

There are two different vaccines to protect against all of these: MenB and MenACWY.

MenB vaccine

The MenB vaccine is available in 2026-27 for young people.

You need two doses, with at least a 28 day gap in between. It takes about two weeks to build up immunity. It is advisable that you get your vaccine as soon as you can, before arriving on campus.

Who is eligible?

  • Anyone born between 1 March 2008 and 28 February 2009 (17 or 18 years old).
  • Anyone born on or after 21 July 2001 (under 25 years old) and starting university for the first time in autumn 2026. This includes international students.

When can you get the MenB vaccine?

First doses are available from 20 July until 30 December 2026, second doses until 30 March 2027.

Where can you get the MenB vaccine?

 

If you live in England

If you live in Wales

  • 17 or 18 years old: You will receive a letter from your health board.
  • Under 25 and starting university for the first time: Contact your health board.

If you live in Scotland

Find out how the MenB vaccine programme is managed in your health board.

If you live in Northern Ireland

The MenB vaccine will be available from 31 July. Find information about the Northern Ireland MenB vaccination programme.

If you live in a different country

If available, we recommend that you get the MenB vaccine in your home country before travelling to the UK. 

If this is not possible, get it as soon as you can after arriving.

Find your nearest pharmacy and phone or visit them to book an appointment.

Don't know your post code yet? Enter E1 4NS, the post code for Queen Mary's Mile End campus, and choose a pharmacy nearby.

Can you get the first dose at home and the second dose at university?

Yes, if you are not able to get both doses before leaving for university, you can book an appointment for your second dose in London. The booking process is the same as for the first dose.

Important: The first and second doses have to be the same type of vaccine. The vaccine used in the UK is Boxsero.

Can postgraduate students get the MenB vaccine?

The 2026-27 MenB vaccination programme is aimed at young people starting university for the first time, which typically does not include postgraduate students. This is because teenagers and students in their first year of undergraduate study are known to be high risk groups.

MenACWY vaccine

In the UK, the MenACWY vaccine is routinely offered to teenagers aged 13 or 14.

If you have not had it, you can still have the MenACWY vaccine for free up to the age of 25 years. This includes international students, and postgraduate students.

You only need one dose, and it takes about two weeks to build up immunity. We strongly recommend that you have your MenACWY vaccine before arriving on campus.

Where can you get the MenACWY vaccine?

Contact your GP.

If you are an international student, have not had the MenACWY vaccine and it is not available to you in your home country, get it as soon as possible after arriving.

You can already do this online before you arrive:

Register with the Student Health Service if you will live on campus or in post codes E1, E2, E3, or E14, or register with your local GP for all other post codes. 

As soon as you are registered, ask them about receiving the MenACWY vaccine.

Meningitis symptoms

The symptoms of meningitis develop suddenly and can include:

  • a high temperature (fever)
  • very cold hands and feet
  • a stiff neck
  • joint and muscle pain
  • a severe headache that is getting worse
  • eye pain when looking at bright lights
  • seizures (fits)
  • vomiting (being sick) and diarrhoea
  • confusion
  • being very sleepy or difficult to wake
  • spots or a rash that does not fade when pressed with a glass (this may be harder to see on brown or black skin)

If you suspect that you or a friend might have meningitis, call 999 immediately.

For more information, see the Meningitis Now website, or Meningitis information on the NHS.

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