Teenagers should be offered meningitis B jab on NHS, Government advisers say
Teenagers should be offered a vaccine on the NHS to protect against deadly meningitis B (menB), Government advisers have recommended.
The move from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which needs approval from the Government, means youngsters should get a jab around the age of 15, with catch-up programmes for those who would otherwise miss out.
It comes after a series of outbreaks of meningitis, with the most serious being in Kent earlier this year which left two teenagers dead.
The JCVI is recommending:
– A booster jab around age 15 for those who had a menB jab as a baby (those born on or after May 1 2015). The first cohort this recommendation applies to will turn 15 in 2030. Children who missed the jab as a baby will be offered two doses.
– In addition, the JCVI says it “strongly supports” giving two doses of the menB vaccine to children born on or before April 30 2015. They would get this when they are around age 15. This group were not offered the vaccine on the NHS as babies and so have missed out on protection as infants. Offering jabs when they hit their teens protects them at the point they are next most at risk.
– Because it could take a while for any programme to be implemented, the JCVI would also like to see a catch-up programme to ensure anyone who misses a vaccine does not lose out.
The move by the JCVI is separate to an announcement last month on a summer programme, which still stands.
Around a million Year 13 pupils and those under 25 starting university this autumn are being offered the menB vaccine on the NHS this summer.
This one-off jab programme offers two doses to youngsters aged 17 to 18 in Year 13, plus those aged under 25 going to university or other residential further education this autumn.
Young people are being offered their first dose from July 20 with a second dose given in August. Two doses, at least 28 days apart, are needed for full protection.
Published: by Radio NewsHub
