Have you had your meningitis vaccine?
By
ResLife
Posted 2 weeks ago
Fri 31 Jul, 2026 12:07 PM
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.
How to get the MenB vaccine
The MenB vaccine is available in 2026-27 for young people.
You need two doses, with at least a 28 day gap in between. It takes about two weeks to build up immunity. It is advisable that you get your vaccine as soon as you can, before arriving on campus.
First doses are available from 20 July - 30 December 2026. Second doses are available until 30 March 2027.
If you are not able to get both doses before leaving for university, don't worry, you can book your second dose in London. Be aware that both doses have to be the same type of vaccine - the vaccine used in the UK is Boxsero.
Who is eligible?
- Anyone born between 1 March 2008 and 28 February 2009 (17 or 18 years old).
- 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.
Find out where you can get the MenB vaccine:
- 17 or 18 years old: Book your MenB vaccine appointment online, or call 119 to book over the phone.
- Under 25 and starting university for the first time: Find your nearest pharmacy and phone or visit them to book an appointment.
- 17 or 18 years old: You will receive a letter from your health board.
- Under 25 and starting university for the first time: Contact your health board.
If you can, we recommend that you get the MenB vaccine in your home country before travelling to the UK. If this isn't possible, get is as soon as you can after you arrive.
Find your nearest pharmacy to book an appointment. If you don't know your postcode yet, you can use the post code E1 4NS for Queen Mary's Mile End campus.
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.
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.
How to get the MenACWY vaccine
If you have not had the MenACWY vaccine before (it is routinely offered in the UK to 13-14 year olds), you are still eligible to get it for free if you are 25 years old or younger, including if you are an international or postgraduate student.
You only need one dose, and as it takes around 2 weeks to build up immunity, we strongly recommend that you have this vaccine before arriving on campus.
Simply contact your GP to book an appointment.
If you are an international student and it's not available to you in your home country, you can get it as soon as possible after arriving. To do so, please register with a GP before you arrive:
- Register with the Student Health Service (if you will live on campus or in post codes E1, E2, E3 or E14)
- Register with your local GP (for all other post codes).
As soon as you're registered, ask them about receiving the MenACWY vaccine.
For further information, visit our Meningitis Information page.
