Jersey students heading to university to receive Meningitis B vaccine

Friday, 12 June 2026 07:00

By Harry Booth

A UK Government programme to offer the meningitis B vaccine to Year 13 pupils, and those under 25 starting university this autumn, will be extended to Jersey.

The one-off jab programme will offer two doses to youngsters aged 17 and 18 in Year 13, as well as those aged 25 who are going to university or other residential further education.

The UK Government says young people will be offered their first dose from July, with a second dose given in August, as two doses at least four weeks apart are needed for full protection.

In a statement, Emma Baker, Health Protection Senior Nurse Advisor in Public Health, said this offer will be extended to Jersey students, and they'll provide an update on local arrangements in the coming days.

She added:

"Our focus is on ensuring the health and wellbeing of students, particularly those preparing to attend university for the first time, and that appropriate support and advice is in place.

"At this stage, there is no immediate change to current advice."

There was a meningitis outbreak in Kent earlier this year, in which two students died. There were 20 cases in total.

That prompted Public Health Jersey to ask local students, who were studying in the area, to follow UKHSA and university advice.

A teenage boy in Oxfordshire died last month after contracting meningitis.