The UK's meningitis B vaccine rollout targets only specific teenage cohorts, not the entire adolescent population. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has restricted eligibility to certain age groups due to cost-benefit analysis and the disease's epidemiology.
Meningitis B, caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B, kills roughly one in ten infected people and leaves one in four survivors with permanent disabilities including deafness, brain damage, and limb loss. The infection strikes fastest in infants and teenagers, with peaks in uptake of the disease among 15 to 19 year-olds.
The Bexsero vaccine offers strong protection against meningitis B but carries a steep price tag. The JCVI determined that universal vaccination across all teenagers wasn't cost-effective for the NHS. Instead, the programme prioritises teenagers at higher risk. Those aged 18 to 24 attending university became the first cohort to receive offers in 2015, reflecting evidence showing student accommodation increases transmission risk.
Additional eligible groups include those with specific immunocompromise conditions, asplenia, or complement deficiencies. Teenagers born in 2006 onwards and some catch-up years have received offers through routine immunisation schedules.
The decision sparked controversy. Parents argued that all teenagers face meningitis B risk, not just those heading to university. Medical professionals also questioned whether the threshold for cost-effectiveness properly reflected the severity of outcomes. One case of meningitis B can devastate a family and community; prevention remains cheaper than managing survivors' lifelong needs.
Healthcare systems across Europe have adopted varying approaches. Some countries offer universal teenage vaccination, while others mirror the UK's targeted model. The debate continues over whether protecting a subset represents adequate public health strategy or whether meningitis B's lethality warrants broader coverage.