"There are a number of different groups of meningococcal disease. MenB meningitis and septicaemia is the most common. In the UK, babies are routinely vaccinated against MenB. However the MenB vaccine is not routinely given to teenagers who are also a high risk age group for the disease. The vaccine can be paid for privately however."
A different vaccine that protects against other groups of meningococcal disease - MenACWY - has been routinely offered to teenagers in the UK Since 2015. This was introduced following a rapid rise in a deadly strain of MenW and helps to protect against four different types of meningococcal disease - Men A, C, W and Y. It’s really important for all eligible young people to get this vaccine. MRF’s eligibility checker makes it easy to find out who is eligible to get the MenACWY vaccine free: www.meningitis.org/oneshot.
MRF is currently supporting research to find out whether vaccinating teenagers would stop them carrying the MenB bacteria and hopes that this research could unlock MenB protection for everyone in the UK. Find out more here.