Boots is offering a private meningitis B service for children unable to get vaccinated on the NHS, the health and beauty giant has announced.

The service, which launched in 52 stores across the UK on Monday (November 2), allows children aged two years and older to receive the two required doses of the Bexsero vaccine for a total of £190, Boots said on Tuesday (November 3). 

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.

Boots set up its private service to cater to parents who want children outside this age range to be vaccinated, it said. Pharmacists will use a consultation to determine if the child is eligible to receive the vaccinations, which will delivered at least two months apart for children aged between two and 10 years, and a minimum of one month apart for older children.

Unable to vaccinate children under two

Boots pharmacists delivering the vaccinations had not received the anaphylaxis and resuscitation training required to vaccinate children under the age of two, but the multiple will "take into account any feedback from parents" regarding offering vaccinations to this age group, it told C+D.

The multiple will also review the service and consider expanding the scheme beyond the initial 52 stores if it detects "increased demand" for the vaccinations, it said. 

Boots UK chief pharmacist Marc Donovan said vaccination services "are an increasingly important part of our pharmacy offer". The meningitis service aims to build on the success of the company's travel vaccination, health advice and flu jab services, he said.

"We believe this new service will give greater access to the meningitis B vaccination at a more accessible cost than many private clinics," he claimed.
 

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