Off to uni? All Milton Keynes students urged to get vital vaccine against serious illness
Young people in MK who are about to head off to university are being urged to get the MenB vaccine to protect themselves from infection.
Ahead of freshers’ week, health bosses are warning of the dangers of meningococcal group B bacteria, which can be spread through sharing a drink, a vape or a kiss – or even just living in the same house as a person.
MenB infection can cause serious, life-threatening problems including inflammation of the lining of the brain and sepsis (blood poisoning). This can lead to life-changing disabilities such as amputations, hearing loss and brain damage – and in some cases can prove fatal. First-year students face a risk about seven times higher than non-students.
But the MenB vaccine, given in two doses at least 28 days apart, gives protection against all of this.
Already nearly a quarter of a million doses have now been administered nationally to young people, with more than 37,000 jabs given in the east of England since the start of the one-off MenB vaccine programme on 20 July 2026.
NHS vaccination leads are urging young people to book their second jab now, as freshers’ weeks begin in the coming weeks. And for those who haven’t yet had their first jab, it’s not too late to start getting protected ahead of term.
This is a time-limited offer (with first doses offered until 31 December 2026 and second doses offered until 31 March 2027), to enable late attendees, and international students who arrive in the UK after the summer months, to accept the offer of two doses.
Anyone who is eligible can now book online via the NHS National Booking Service for appointments at community pharmacies or contact a participating pharmacy to book an appointment.
There are hundreds of thousands of Men B vaccination appointments available to patients and enough stock to vaccinate everyone eligible.
Dr Eleanor Powers, Head of Public Health Commissioning (Immunisation) for NHS England – East of England, said: “As you plan your accommodation, please make sure you’re also getting both your Men B jabs on your ‘to-do’ list this summer.
“This vaccine needs two doses to be most effective, so if you’re eligible, please come forward and book as soon as possible to give you the best protection you can.”