UK experts urge free MenB vaccine for teens aged 15 and older

Advisers to the UK government have urged the introduction of MenB vaccinations after an outbreak in Kent earlier this year claimed two lives. The outbreak, which involved meningococcal group B strains, prompted public health officials to review current immunisation policies and assess whether a broader MenB programme could prevent further fatalities.

The MenB vaccine, already available for high‑risk groups, protects against the meningococcal B bacterium that can cause meningitis and septicaemia. In the Kent cases, both patients were not covered by existing vaccination schedules, highlighting a gap in protection for the general population. The advisers recommend a national rollout that would extend coverage to children and adolescents, aligning the UK with several other European countries that have adopted MenB programmes.

If the government adopts the advisers’ recommendation, the new policy would add MenB to the routine childhood immunisation schedule, potentially reducing the incidence of meningococcal disease and averting future outbreaks. The decision will be weighed against cost, vaccine supply and the public health benefits of broader protection.