UK advisers recommend meningitis B vaccine for teenagers; Scotland already rolling out free jabs for students

Government health advisers have recommended that all teenagers across the UK be offered the meningitis B vaccine on the NHS, following a series of deadly outbreaks. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) said children should receive one or two doses of the menB vaccine at age 15, depending on whether they had the vaccine as a baby, according to The Guardian. The recommendation comes after a serious outbreak in Kent earlier this year that left two teenagers dead, KentOnline reported.

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KentOnlineTeens should be offered meningitis B jab on NHS after deadly Kent outbreak, government advisers sayThe GuardianOffer teenagers a meningitis B vaccine on NHS, advisers tell UK government

The move is intended to protect against invasive meningococcal disease, a rare but serious illness, BBC News reported. Campaign group Meningitis Now described the recommendation as a "significant moment" in fighting the disease, according to BBC News. In the meantime, Scotland has already begun offering free meningitis B vaccines to teenagers and first-year students ahead of the new academic year, Medical Daily reported.

Medical DailyWhy Scotland Is Offering Free Meningitis B Vaccines to Students Before a Rare Infection Turns Life-Threatening

"The campaign aims to protect those at higher risk of infection in shared living accommodations."

Scottish students are being urged to take up the offer before heading to university or college, where dormitories and crowded social settings can increase transmission risk. The UK-wide JCVI recommendation, if accepted by the government, would include catch-up programmes for older teenagers who missed out, The Independent reported.

The IndependentExperts say teens should be offered meningitis B jab on NHS – what we know

The JCVI's advice marks a major shift in policy, as the meningitis B jab has previously been offered only to infants. The Guardian noted that the committee said young people should be eligible at age 15, with catch-ups for those who would otherwise have missed out. The Independent added that experts are now urging swift implementation to prevent further tragedies like the Kent outbreak.