If you have/are a young person who is starting university or college or has recently completed S6 – NHS Lothian is encouraging them to take up the offer of the MenB vaccine as soon as possible.
Drop-in clinics are now open across Edinburgh and the Lothians for young people eligible for vaccination against meningococcal B (MenB), a bacteria that can cause serious and potentially life-threatening illnesses, including meningitis and sepsis.
The vaccine provides important protection for young people as they move into further and higher education. First-year students are at a higher risk of contracting MenB due to close living arrangements and increased social mixing. Taking up the vaccine before the start of term can help reduce this risk.
The MenB vaccine is given in two doses, with the second dose administered at least four weeks after the first. Full protection develops around two weeks after the second dose, so eligible young people are encouraged to book or attend a clinic as soon as possible to ensure they are protected before the academic year begins.
The vaccine is being offered to:
• Young people born between 1 March 2008 and 28 February 2009, and anyone who was in S6 during the 2025-26 academic year, regardless of their future education plans.
• First-time undergraduate university entrants under the age of 25 starting in the 2026/27 academic year, including international students.
• First-time college entrants under the age of 25 who will be living away from home in shared student accommodation during the 2026-27 academic year, including international students.
Find out more at https://www.nhslothian.scot/vaccinations/meningococcal-b-menb/.
