Hundreds of thousands of young people across the country will be looking forward to starting a new course at a university or college this autumn.
Students from Tower Hamlets and our neighbouring boroughs will be among them.
To help protect young people who may be at increased risk as they move into new education settings over the next few months, the NHS has launched a time-limited Meningitis B (MenB) vaccination programme.
The programme has been introduced in response to recent meningitis outbreaks – including the one in Canterbury in March this year.
If you have a child, friend, or family member in Year 13, starting university, or moving into residential further education accommodation for the first time, they may be eligible.
The free vaccine is available to Year 13 students (who will have just finished sixth form or college); university starters born on or after July 21, 2001, who are starting undergraduate courses this autumn, and further education students born on or after July 21, 2001, who will be living in residential accommodation for the first time in autumn 2026.
Here in Tower Hamlets, the vaccination programme is being delivered through participating community pharmacies, rather than GP surgeries. All eligible young people will need two doses, given at least 28 days apart, for full protection.
Year 13 students can book appointments online through the national booking system. Visit the NHS website (nhs.uk) and search for 'Book a MenB vaccination appointment'.
If you cannot book online, you can call 119 free of charge to book over the phone. You can speak to a translator if you need to.
Older students who are starting university or eligible residential further education for the first time this autumn can use local pharmacy walk-in services.
To find a walk-in site near you, go online and visit the nhs.uk website pharmacy finder service.
While rare, Meningococcal group B (MenB) bacteria can cause serious, life-threatening illnesses and being around lots of new people in shared living spaces like university halls increases the risk of it spreading.
Getting two doses of the MenB vaccine before the autumn term is one of the most important things young people can do to protect themselves.
Anyone eligible is encouraged to get both vaccine doses as soon as they can.
The NHS is currently considering recommendations for a separate Men B vaccination programme for school children at age 15.
- Dr Roberto Tamsanguan is a local GP and clinical director for Tower Hamlets at NHS North East London.
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