Community pharmacies will be delivering meningococcal B (MenB) vaccinations this summer in a one-off programme for students in England ahead of the 2026 academic year.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DH) announced today that it will be offering a two-dose MenB vaccination to all pupils who completed year 13 this summer and were born between September 1, 2007 and August 31, 2008 “irrespective of their education plans”.
Read more: Pharmacy sector calls for meningitis jabs after outbreak
It will also offer two doses to those under the age of 25 starting university or residential further education “for the first time”.
The first vaccine dose is expected be available from the end of July, while the second will be offered in August – with the DH stressing that two doses “are essential for protection”.
Outbreak
It comes after a meningitis outbreak in Kent in March prompted calls from sector bodies for pharmacies to be commissioned to provide catch-up vaccinations.
The DH said the outbreak was “the fastest growing and largest ever seen in the UK”, and there “have been more clusters than normal this year, some of which have been bigger than expected”.
Read more: Asda Pharmacy slashes MenB vaccine price
It added that there is a “usual autumn peak in meningitis” among the age group concerned in October and November, as “close and prolonged contact in halls and at social events” can “increase the risk” of contracting MenB.
The one-off vaccination programme “will help to protect those at highest immediate risk” while it assesses new evidence on whether there has been “a change in the way MenB affects people”, the DH said.
The sector responds
Community Pharmacy England (CPE) chief executive Janet Morrison said it is “no surprise” the NHS and government are “looking to community pharmacy” to deliver the vaccinations - but added that negotiations on the sector’s involvement “are ongoing”.
“We hope to be in a position to share further details with pharmacy owners very soon,” she said.
National Pharmacy Association (NPA) chief executive Henry Gregg said he is “delighted” the government has listened to the sector and will use pharmacies to provide the vaccines.
Read more: Pharmacies to receive 20,000 meningitis jabs from NHS supply
He added that it will be “a huge relief to parents” about to send their children to university who have “understandably been concerned about the tragic outbreaks in Kent and elsewhere this year”.
Independent Pharmacies Association (IPA) chief executive Dr Leyla Hannbeck also welcomed the announcement, and said she is confident pharmacies “can mobilise and deliver this service consistently and promptly” if given the right amount of vaccine stock.
CPE negotiating team member Fin McCaul said community pharmacy’s involvement is a “really positive development” and “testament to the amazing way in which pharmacies continue to step up and deliver, despite facing very serious ongoing challenges”.
Read more: Expanded pharmacy children’s flu vac service launching this year
“It’s encouraging to see ministers once again turning to pharmacy for solutions,” he added.
Company Chemists’ Association (CCA) chief executive Malcolm Harrison said this is “another step towards a broader, nationally commissioned pharmacy vaccination offer for children and adolescents”.
NHS England vaccination director Caroline Temmink said appointments will be “available at a number of community pharmacies” and bookings will open “in mid-July”.
Read more: Reform childhood vaccination or risk more outbreaks, warns NPA
Eligible patients will be contacted to book directly with the participating pharmacies.
In March, the Kent outbreak led to UKHSA announcing that 20,000 jabs were to be released from NHS supply “to the private market to ease current demand experienced by pharmacies”.
Meanwhile, Asda responded to the demand by slashing its MenB vaccine price until April 30.
