First-year university students urged to get MenB vaccine

11 September 2026

Students under 25 and starting their first year of university are being offered a vaccine to protect against meningitis B (MenB).

Earlier this year, the UK Government launched an urgent vaccination programme to protect young people from MenB, a bacterial infection that can cause serious illness, including meningitis, septicaemia and sepsis.

It followed a serious outbreak of invasive meningococcal disease in Kent which has so far resulted in 21 confirmed cases and two deaths.

Students starting university as an undergraduate for the first time are at higher risk of MenB infection as they are mixing more with people and living in shared accommodation.

In September and October, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board’s vaccination team will be visiting a range of higher education or residential further education settings to offer the MenB vaccination to students.

The vaccine is given as two doses, four weeks apart, to ensure full protection. Attend a vaccination clinic as soon as possible to ensure you have time to receive a second dose. Some students may have received their first vaccination during the summer, they can attend one of the vaccination clinics below to receive their second dose.

Here is a list of all the walk-in vaccination clinics taking place. No appointment is needed, just turn up:

Dr Claire Beynon, Executive Director of Public Health at Cardiff and Vale UHB, said: “Starting university is an exciting time, and getting your meningitis B vaccine during Freshers’ Week is a simple but important step to help protect yourself. Meningitis B can develop very quickly and can cause serious illness, including meningitis and sepsis, with potentially life-changing or fatal consequences.

“Students living and socialising closely together can be at increased risk of spreading meningococcal bacteria, so taking up the vaccine when it is offered is an important way to reduce that risk.

“And it doesn’t have to get in the way of enjoying the start of university life - getting vaccinated during Freshers’ Week means you can get this important health step done while you’re settling in, meeting new people and making the most of everything university has to offer.”

The MenB vaccine is available to those born on or after 21/07/2001 (turning 25 on or after 21/07//2026) and attending higher education or residential further education for the first time from autumn 2026. Please bring evidence that you’re a first-year undergraduate student, for example your offer letter.

Students are urged to get their first vaccination at one of the September dates, with their second four weeks later at one of the October dates. If students have already had their first MenB dose at a community clinic over the summer, they are urged to get their second dose at one of the university clinics in September.