More than 212,000 young people in England have received a first MenB vaccine dose, but UK health officials say many eligible students remain unprotected.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported that 212,549 eligible young people had received their first meningococcal B vaccine dose by 20 September, representing 26.6% of the eligible Year 13 cohort.

The one-off vaccination programme was introduced in July 2026 following meningococcal disease outbreaks, including a serious outbreak in Kent. It targets young people who were in Year 13 during the 2025/26 school year and eligible under-25s starting university or certain further-education courses for the first time.

UKHSA is particularly urging new university students to come forward for vaccination, as first-year students have a higher risk of meningococcal disease because of increased social mixing.

Eligible young people need two MenB doses, with the doses administered at least 28 days apart. The vaccination offer remains available through participating pharmacies and NHS services.

The latest figures also show significant differences in uptake between regions and socioeconomic groups, highlighting continuing challenges around access to and awareness of vaccination.

The programme is scheduled to continue until 31 March 2027, giving eligible young people additional opportunities to receive protection.