Thousands of young people in Lothian and the rest of Scotland are to be offered vaccination against meningococcal B disease (MenB) this summer.
Following recent outbreaks of meningitis in the UK, the Scottish Government has announced plans to provide the Meningococcal B (MenB) vaccination.
The time-limited programme will be offered to some older teenagers and some new college and university students who are at higher risk of exposure to meningococcal group B bacteria.
The MenB vaccine will be offered to:
• young people born between 1 March 2008 and 28 February 2009, and any others who were in S6 during the 2025-26 academic year, regardless of future education plans
• undergraduate university entrants under the age of 25 who are starting for the first time in the academic year 2026-27, including international students
• college entrants under 25 starting for the first time in the academic year 2026-27 while living away from home in shared student accommodation, including international students.
The programme will start in July 2026 and two doses are essential for full protection.
Meningococcal disease, which can include meningitis and/or septicaemia, is life-threatening and can result in life-changing disabilities including amputations, hearing loss, and brain damage. It is fatal in around 10% of cases.
The transition to university or college – particularly into shared accommodation – is one of the highest-risk periods for the disease, as close contact with large numbers of new people increases the risk of it spreading.
NHS Lothian is currently making arrangements for a mix of planned and drop-in clinics, and details will be published on our website here when they become available.
Young people who are eligible are also being asked to complete a form in advance of the clinics to help vaccinators gauge demand. They will then receive an email notification when arrangements are confirmed, including information on how and where to receive their vaccine.
