EXCLUSIVE

Boots plans to expand its meningitis B vaccination service after an "incredibly positive response" from patients, the multiple has told C+D.          

Pharmacists at 52 branches have provided the service to around 500 children who cannot receive the vaccination on the NHS since Boots launched the scheme last month, the health and beauty giant told C+D on Monday (December 14).

It now plans to roll out the service – which allows children aged two years and older to receive the two required doses of the Bexsero vaccine for a total of £190 – to a further 30 branches in spring 2016, it said.

Boots currently offers the vaccine to children up to the age of 18, but it told C+D it may increase the upper age limit to 21 following feedback from students and universities.

The government introduced a meningitis B vaccination as part of its childhood immunisation programme in September, targetting children at two, four and 12 months of age. 

How could a meningitis vaccination service benefit your patients?

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