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.

The MenB vaccine is given in 2 doses, which need to be at least 4 weeks apart. Book your 2nd dose after you have had your 1st dose. It takes about two weeks to build up immunity. 

Who is eligible?

• Anyone born between 1 September 2007 and 31 August 2008
• 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 31 December 2026, second doses until 31 March 2027.

Where can you get the MenB vaccine?

Free NHS MenB vaccination clinics – Mile End campus

Location: Graduate Centre foyer

Dates and times:

• Friday 13 November: 12–6pm
• Thursday 19, Friday 20, Thursday 26 and Friday 27 November: 11am–6pm
• Thursday 3, Friday 4, Thursday 10 and Friday 11 December: 11am–6pm

Additional clinic: Monday 14 December, 1–6pm, Student Health Service, ground floor of the Geography Building.

Booking: Book your free MenB vaccination

Please select "Meningitis B Vaccination - Student NHS Eligible FREE" from the drop-down options

The clinics are being delivered by Pillbox Chemists Group / Harley Street Medical. 

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 Bexsero.

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)

Not everyone with meningitis develops a rash. Symptoms can appear in any order, and someone may become seriously unwell without developing a rash. Do not wait for a rash to appear before seeking medical attention.

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.