Young people in NI to be offered MenB vaccine from 31 July

Young people to be offered MenB vaccine from 31 JulyImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Year 14 pupils and first year university students will be able to get the vaccines ahead of the autumn termByJessica LawrenceBBC News NIPublished17 July 2026, 00:01 BSTUpdated 1 hour agoA meningitis B (MenB) vaccination programme targeting young people and university students in Northern Ireland will roll out from 31 July, NI's chief medical officer has said.It follows an outbreak in England earlier this year, in which two people - a university student and a sixth-form pupil - died.The two-dose vaccine will be offered to those deemed most at risk from the infection, including Year 14 students and under-25s starting university or a Higher Education institution for the first time this autumn.MenB is a bacterial infection that can cause serious, life-threatening illness including inflammation of the lining of the brain and blood poisoning (sepsis).It is spread by close contact such as kissing, sharing vapes or drinks, or living in close quarters - like student accommodation - with a person who has the disease.Similar vaccination programmes are rolling out in England, Wales and Scotland.What is meningitis B and why is a vaccine only being offered to some teenagers?Published12 JuneMeningitis B vaccine to be offered to a million young people Published12 JuneWhat is meningitis B?Meningitis is an infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord.There are several types, and meningitis B can be very serious.It can affect anyone, but is most common in babies, young children, teenagers and young adults.Who can get the MenB vaccine in Northern Ireland?A letter from the Chief Medical Officer, external, Prof Sir Michael McBride, states that from 31 July 2026, those eligible for the vaccine are:Anyone born between 2 July 2007 and 1 July 2008Those born on or after 21 July 2001 and are due to start an undergraduate degree in the UK or Ireland this autumn - in...