Latest figures highlight ongoing Meningitis B risk for students

Young adults, particularly university students, remain at increased risk from meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia, with new figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) showing that Meningitis B (MenB) was responsible for 97% of invasive meningococcal disease cases in 15 to 24-year-olds (93 of 96 cases) in England during 2025 to 2026.

UKHSA is urging freshers to ensure they are protected with 2 doses ahead of term starting. This is really important because students in their first year of university face a risk of meningococcal disease around 7 times higher than young people of a similar age who do not go to university.

The new data, published in the Invasive Meningococcal Disease (IMD) report for England, also shows that MenB was the leading cause of the disease across almost all age groups under 25, including infants (92%, 34 of 37) and 1 to 4 year-olds (100%, 35 of 35).

Today’s figures for younger children also underlines the importance of parents ensuring infants receive their 3 MenB vaccines on time as part of the routine Childhood Programme. Timely vaccination remains the best protection against MenB in the early years of life, when children are also at high risk of infection.

Invasive Meningococcal Disease can be serious, with 26 deaths recorded among the 348 total IMD confirmed cases during the year.

In March 2026, an unprecedented Meningitis B outbreak in Kent was associated with 21 cases in students and other young people in the Canterbury area. This was followed by 2 further MenB outbreaks, each involving 3 or more cases, in Dorset and in Berkshire. The outbreaks tragically caused 3 deaths and some of those who survived the infections are now facing life-long health consequences.

In response to these outbreaks, a one-off, time-limited MenB vaccination programme was launched this summer, targeting those at highest immediate risk of MenB disease, primarily school leavers and first-year university and higher education undergraduates.

The NHS has given 246,089 doses of the MenB vaccine (as of 31 August 2026) to young people, but thousands more school leavers and first-year undergraduates remain eligible ahead of freshers’ week.

As freshers’ weeks get underway across the country, students will be mixing closely with lots of new people, in halls, at social events and in shared accommodation. This increases the risk of picking up the meningococcal bacteria.

Every eligible student is urged to come forward for both doses of the MenB vaccine as soon as possible, and to be aware of the signs and symptoms of meningitis so they know what to look out for in themselves and their friends.

Dr Shamez Ladhani, Consultant Epidemiologist at UKHSA, said:

University is an exciting time, but it’s also when young people are at greater risk of meningococcal disease due to close, prolonged contact with lots of new people, and today’s figures show just how real that risk is.

These figures also reinforce how valuable the routine childhood MenB vaccine has been in protecting our infants, and I’d encourage all parents to make sure their children receive all three doses on time as part of their routine vaccinations.

The MenB vaccine offer for students and young people is now underway - it’s absolutely vital that everyone eligible gets their two doses, ideally before term starts or as soon as possible. Two doses are essential for the best protection against most strains of Meningitis B, so please don’t leave it half done or too late. It only takes a few minutes and will be the best insurance you can have against this deadly disease.

Vinny Smith, Chief Executive, Meningitis Research Foundation said: 

These figures reinforce the need for every eligible young person in England to take up the time-limited MenB vaccine offer now available on the NHS. This year, we have supported thousands of people affected by England’s MenB outbreaks and know the fear and uncertainty every case can cause. We want families to stop having to think ‘what if’ after MenB has changed their lives forever. That is why this year’s MenB vaccination programme is a critical step towards closing the protection gap for teenagers and young adults, an age group where we continue to see too many cases.

This autumn, we’ll be at universities across the UK helping students understand why getting their MenB vaccine is so important. If you’re a teen or young adult, don’t wait. Book your vaccine appointment now, get both doses, and give yourself the best possible protection against MenB.

Dr Tom Nutt, Chief Executive at Meningitis Now said:

Meningitis remains a very real and potentially devastating threat to young people. With MenB accounting for 97% of cases among 15 to 24-year-olds in England last year, we cannot afford for students to underestimate the risk.

Meningitis can strike suddenly and can have life-changing consequences, and vaccination is our best defence. We have seen too many young lives devastated by this disease. If you are eligible, please get vaccinated. Two doses could help protect you from a disease that can change your life in a matter of hours.

We are urging every eligible student to get protected with two doses of the MenB vaccine as soon as possible. Don’t wait until you arrive on campus and make getting vaccinated part of your preparations for university.

While the vaccine offers protection against most meningococcal strains, it does not protect against all infections that can cause meningitis and septicaemia. Also, many young people may not have received both doses of the vaccine or will not be eligible for the current programme, which is why it’s crucial for everyone to know how to spot the symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia. Seek medical advice straight away, as early detection and treatment can be lifesaving.

Symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia may occur in any order and include:

• high temperature
• cold hands and feet
• vomiting
• confusion
• breathing quickly
• muscle and joint pain
• pale, mottled or blotchy skin (this may be harder to see on brown or black skin)
• spots or a rash (this may be harder to see on brown or black skin)
• headache
• stiff neck
• dislike of bright lights
• being very sleepy or difficult to wake
• fits (seizures)

In addition to MenB, meningococcal A, C, W and Y are also causes of meningitis and septicaemia in young people. The MenACWY vaccine is routinely offered to teenagers as part of the school immunisation programme. All teenagers remain eligible for MenACWY vaccination until their 25th birthday and it is important that they continue to take up the offer if they have not been vaccinated in school, particularly if they are entering higher educations institutions where their risk of disease is much higher than that of their peers.

For more information on Meningococcal disease see: MenB vaccine for children - NHS; or for students to book or check eligibility for a vaccine see: Book a MenB vaccination appointment - NHS.

Further advice and support can be found at Meningitis in students - Information and advice