All 15-year-olds set to be offered vaccine after fatal disease outbreaks

Cases tend to peak in October to November each yearNeil Shaw Assistant Editor06:37, 17 Jul 2026Teenagers should be offered a vaccine on the NHS to protect against deadly meningitis B (menB), Government advisers have recommended. The move from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) means youngsters should get a jab around the age of 15, with catch-up programmes for those who would otherwise miss out.‌The mother of an 18-year-old who died of menB in 2023 described the recommendation as “bittersweet” and called for ministers to approve it. It comes after a series of outbreaks of meningitis, with the most serious being in Kent earlier this year which left two teenagers dead.‌The JCVI is recommending:‌A booster jab around age 15 for those who had a menB jab as a baby (those