Helen and Lee Draper, whose daughter Meg died from meningitis B (MenB) at 18, welcome new official advice recommending the MenB vaccine for 15-year-olds. They believe the change, driven by their campaign, will save lives, while UK and Welsh governments consider implementation amid cost and feasibility concerns.
High street pharmacies in England are now providing a free Meningitis B vaccine to young people aged 17-25, including university and college students. This initiative follows a significant outbreak in Kent earlier this year, aiming to protect those most at risk.
A new trial in Australia suggests the Meningitis B vaccine (4CMenB) does not prevent gonorrhoea infections, despite its use in at-risk men in the UK. The GoGoVax trial found no significant difference in infection rates between vaccinated and placebo groups.
A one-off Meningitis B vaccine programme will be offered to ~1 million young people in England, Wales, and Scotland, targeting those in their last year of secondary school and 18-25-year-olds entering university/residential further education, due to concerns over recent outbreaks in Kent, Weymouth, and Reading.
