Free NHS MenB vaccine for Year 13 & new students

For autumn 2026 the NHS is offering a one-off MenB vaccination to three groups: young people in school Year 13 (born between 1 September 2007 and 31 August 2008); new university undergraduates (“freshers”) starting higher education for the first time who are under 25 (born on or after 21 July 2001); and people starting further education for the first time and moving into halls or residential accommodation, again under 25. International students under 25 entering their first year, and students from the devolved nations attending these settings in England, are also included. Use the checker above to see where you fall.

Yes. For the eligible groups it is free on the NHS. If you are not in one of those groups, MenB is not funded for you on this programme, but you can still have it privately — at Altrincham Travel Clinic it is £110 per dose.

The NHS community-pharmacy MenB service launches in July 2026 and runs until 31 March 2027, with first doses available up to 31 December 2026. Appointments at our pharmacy will open closer to the time — register your interest now and we'll tell you as soon as booking goes live. The second dose is given at least 28 days after the first.

Two doses are needed for protection. The second dose is given at least 28 days after the first, and it then takes around a further two weeks to build a good level of immunity — so it's worth starting the course in good time before term.

Most likely not on this programme — the NHS offer is aimed at Year 13 pupils and new, under-25 students starting university or residential further education for the first time in autumn 2026. If that's not you, you can still protect yourself with a private MenB course at our Manchester clinic.

The infant MenB doses given in the routine childhood schedule are separate from this one-off offer, which targets the older age group now at higher risk (teenagers and new students). If your child is in an eligible group and has not completed a course of MenB in the last 5 years, they can have it. If they have had a full course recently, they likely don't need it again now — contact us if you're unsure.

International students under 25 who are entering their first year of university in England are included in the programme, even if they don't arrive in the UK until September. Bring evidence of your university place (such as an offer letter or confirmation email) to your appointment.

The programme is a response to recent meningococcal disease activity and the well-established higher risk in this age group. First-year university students living in close contact — for example in halls of residence — have a risk of meningococcal disease roughly 7 times higher than young people of the same age who don't go to university. Two doses of MenB give protection ahead of the start of term.

They protect against different groups of the meningococcal bacteria. MenACWY (offered routinely to teenagers and required for Hajj and Umrah) covers groups A, C, W and Y. MenB covers group B, which the new student programme is specifically targeting. They are separate vaccines and you may be advised to have both — they are not interchangeable.

Altrincham Travel Clinic is a pharmacist-led clinic in Timperley, between Altrincham and Manchester. We can give MenB privately now, and we will be offering the free NHS MenB service to eligible students from July 2026 — register your interest and we'll be in touch when appointments open.