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Rhaglen frechu rhag Meningococol B (MenB): ymateb brys am gyfnod cyfyngedig yn sgil brigiadau diweddar o achosion (WHC/2026/026)

Canllawiau i weithwyr iechyd proffesiynol ynglŷn â rhaglen frechu frys rhag MenB am gyfnod cyfyngedig a gyflwynwyd mewn ymateb i frigiadau diweddar o achosion.

Cyhoeddwyd gyntaf: 17 Mehefin 2026

Diweddarwyd ddiwethaf: 16 Gorffennaf 2026

Ar y dudalen hon

Manylion

Dyddiad Cyhoeddi:

16 Mehefin 2026

Statws:

Cydymffurfio / Gweithredu

Categori:

Iechyd y cyhoedd

Teitl:

Rhaglen frechu frys rhag Meningococol B (MenB) am gyfnod cyfyngedig mewn ymateb i frigiadau diweddar o achosion.

Dyddiad dod i ben / dyddiad adolygu:

Amherthnasol

I’w weithredu gan:

Prif Weithredwyr, byrddau a ymddiriedolaethau iechyd
Arweinwyr Gweithredol Brechu, byrddau a ymddiriedolaethau iechyd
Cyfarwyddwyr Meddygol, byrddau a ymddiriedolaethau iechyd
Cyfarwyddwyr Gofal Sylfaenol, byrddau a ymddiriedolaethau iechyd
Cyfarwyddwyr Gweithredol Nyrsio, byrddau a ymddiriedolaethau iechyd
Prif Fferyllwyr, byrddau a ymddiriedolaethau iechyd
Cyfarwyddwyr Iechyd Cyhoeddus, byrddau a ymddiriedolaethau iechyd
Cyfarwyd Cyfarwyddwyr Gweithredol Therapïau a Gwyddor Iechyd,
Byrddau a Ymddiriedolaeth Iechyd
dwr Cenedlaethol Diogelu Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Sgrinio a Cyfarwyddwr Meddygol
Gweithredol, Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru
Cyfarwyddwr Nyrsio, Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru
Pennaeth y Rhaglen Frechu yn erbyn Clefydau Ataliadwy, Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru
Pennaeth y Rhaglen Frechu yn erbyn Clefydau Ataliadwy, Rhaglen Frechu Cymru,
Y Pwyllgor Ymarferwyr Cyffredinol, Cymru
Ymarferwyr cyffredinol
fferyllfeydd cymunedol
fferyllfeydd cymunedol, Cymru
Iechyd a Gofal Digidol Cymru

Anfonir gan:

Dr Keith Reid, Dirprwy Brif Swyddog Meddygol (Iechyd y Cyhoedd)

Enw(au) cyswllt yng Ngrŵp Iechyd, Gofal Cymdeithasol a'r Blynyddoedd Cynnar Llywodraeth Cymru:

Gwasanaethau Diogelu Iechyd,
Adran Iechyd y Cyhoedd,
Llywodraeth Cymru,
Parc Cathays,
Caerdydd,
CF10 3NQ
E-bost: wg.vaccinationsprogrammeteam@gov.wales

An urgent time-limited Meningococcal B (MenB) vaccination programme in response to recent outbreaks

Dear Colleagues,

Following the unprecedented outbreak of Meningococcal Group B (MenB) in Kent in March, and more recent smaller outbreaks in Weymouth and Reading, I am writing to advise of an urgent MenB vaccination response as a precautionary measure to help protect the young people at highest immediate risk this year.

Those considered at highest risk from MenB disease include older teenagers and students aged less than 25 years of age who are entering higher and residential further educational settings for the first time. The offer of the MenB Bexsero® (4CMenB) vaccine will therefore be made to people currently in the Year 13 age group (born between 01/09/2007 and 31/08/2008) and anyone aged up to 25 years who will be attending higher education or residential further education for the first time in autumn 2026, including students from other UK nations and international students.

This will be a time limited offer, beginning on 20 July this year. As 2 doses of the Bexsero® (4CMenB) vaccine are required at least 28 days apart for protection, it is important to start offering vaccination as soon as practicably possible after this date, with the aim of achieving protection of the above individuals before the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year and the peak season for MenB in the autumn.

This letter is aimed at health professionals who will be responsible for delivering this targeted vaccination programme. I encourage you to share this information with all those who are involved in delivering the programmes in your area.

Eligible cohorts

The MenB vaccination should be offered to:

Cohort 1: all individuals born between 01/09/2007 and 31/08/2008 (17 to 18 years old)
Cohort 2: individuals born on or after 21/07/2001 (turning 25 on or after 21/07/2026) and are due to start undergraduate higher education OR residential further education, for the first time in autumn 2026, including international students and those from the UK Devolved Administrations and Crown Dependencies.

The offer does not include:

those born before 21/07/2001
those aged less than 25 years continuing their studies (not first-time entrants)
those in school level residential settings, for example sixth form boarding schools, unless they are eligible due to their age
those who completed a 2 dose course of Bexsero^® within the last 5 years
those who completed a 2 or 3 dose course of Trumenba^® within the last 5 years

Invitations will be issued by health boards for Cohort 1 (those born between 01/09/2007 and 31/08/2008), with self-referrals to health board vaccination clinics for Cohort 2 (those turning 25 on or after 21/07/2026 attending higher education or residential further education for the first time).

For individuals from Cohort 2 who are self-referring, health professionals should use the criteria listed below to verify eligibility and then facilitate vaccination:

confirm the individual falls within the relevant age group by date of birth
verify documentary evidence, including electronic confirmation, of an offer for the 2026 to 2027 academic year confirming the individual is due to attend higher education or residential further education (HERFE) for the first time

This should be an official email, letter or screenshot providing confirmation of their offer of a place at their chosen university or college from either the HE institution or the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). The relevant evidence should include the name of the university or college that they are due to attend, the course code or title of the course of study, and confirmation of the offer of a place (either conditional or unconditional).

Eligible military personnel attending military further education settings (known as ‘basic training’) that are included in the programme should have evidence in the form of a hard copy or email official joining letter, or similar correspondence from the Armed Forces Careers Office. Some recruits may have a temporary or permanent Ministry of Defence (MOD) ID card.

A list of UK wide relevant universities and residential further education establishments is attached at Annex 2 as a guide, but this list is not absolute and subject to updates. Young people may be planning to study abroad, and so proof of an offer may be provided, which does not appear on this list. Consequently, health professionals should use their best judgement in deciding whether both the above criteria are met.

Delivery

The vaccination programme will be delivered by local immunisation teams via designated health board vaccination clinics.

Health boards will be responsible for issuing invitations to all individuals (Cohort 1) born between 01/09/2007 and 31/08/2008 (17 to 18 years old) to attend for a first dose vaccination appointment, with second letters sent for those who did not attend. Health boards are also required to offer a walk-in service to deliver vaccination to the self-referring group (Cohort 2).

Two doses are necessary for protection. Appointments should be made for individuals to attend for their second dose. This must be administered a minimum of 28 days after the first dose and individuals should be reminded of the importance of returning for this second dose.

Vaccinators should also consider opportunities to review the vaccination record of eligible individuals and offer any outstanding vaccinations at the same appointment. Given the eligible cohort, outstanding vaccinations are likely to include missed vaccinations for Meningococcal ACWY (MenACWY), Tetanus, Diphtheria and Polio (Td/IPV), Human papillomavirus (HPV) and Measles, Mumps & Rubella (MMR).

When checking an individual’s vaccination status, where a record is not held in CYPrIS, health board staff can access past immunisation history within the Welsh GP Record via Welsh Immunisation System. Each time an immunisation history is accessed in this way, it is essential the following statement is recorded in the consent model box: “Vaccination History Check in line with WHC(2026)026”.

Meningococcal vaccines can be given at the same time as any other vaccines required but should be given at a different site, and preferably into a different limb. Please refer to the Meningococcal chapter of Immunisation Against Infectious Disease (the Green Book) for more information.

There is a need for a coordinated, equity-focused approach to vaccination, which addresses barriers and the diverse needs of underserved communities. Equity needs to be built into the design and delivery of the programme, particularly in terms of accessibility, to ensure vaccination clinics are within easy reach of those eligible. In addition, there should be tailored interventions to understand and overcome the specific barriers faced by the different population groups within the eligible cohorts. The evidence tells us that with the right interventions and investment in services, underserved communities will accept the offer of vaccination, which points to accessibility rather than acceptability being the key barrier to inclusion and uptake.

As this programme will run concurrently across the UK, there may be a requirement for second doses to be facilitated in Wales for students from other UK nations and internationally. Vaccinators should ensure they provide individuals with their record card to enable them to receive their second dose in other parts of the UK if needed.

General Practice and pharmacies

Understandably, eligible individuals, their parents or guardians may have questions about the programme delivery in each health board area. Contact details are attached as Annex 1. All queries regarding the programme should be directed here.

It should be stressed that the delivery of this programme is via local health board vaccination teams and not through general practitioners or pharmacies. Therefore, if queries are mistakenly directed to GPs or pharmacies about the programme, I would be grateful to staff there for signposting individual queries to their local health board, through the contact details in Annex 1.

Programme start and end dates

The programme will run from 20 July 2026, with most of the vaccination activity to be completed by September 2026, ensuring completion of the 2 dose course prior to the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year.

First doses must continue to be available until 31 December 2026 and second doses available until 31 March 2027, enabling late attendees or international students who arrive in the UK after the summer months, to accept the offer of 2 doses.

Vaccine supply

4CMenB (Bexsero) vaccine should be used to vaccinate in line with the

guidance within the Green Book chapter for Meningococcal. This vaccine product is used routinely in the infant schedule and is delivered in packs of 10. Providers will need to source their own needles. Vaccine supplies are available to order online via the ImmForm website and need to be placed on the regular ordering day for the included sites, as out of schedule deliveries will not be possible. Care should be taken to ensure orders are placed against the correct product code - BEXSERO-10-ADOLESC, which is separate from the infant and gonorrhoea vaccination programme, to ensure appropriate stock allocation and data collection. Further information will be shared directly via Vaccination Programme Wales.

Vaccine supply ordered through wholesalers or any other means other than Immform will not be reimbursed.

Funding

In line with other vaccination programmes, health boards are responsible for delivery of vaccination services and will need to assure themselves on the delivery and uptake of the vaccination programme. Health boards are expected to report their local delivery plans to Vaccination Programme Wales.

The ‘National enhanced service specification for non-routine immunisations for adults and children at risk’ sets out arrangements for the vaccination of adults and children outside of the routine national immunisation programme due to their increased risk of disease. Whilst there are no plans for GMS contractors to be involved in the delivery of this programme, the specification has been updated to provide cover if the situation arises where GMS contractors need to opportunistically give Meningococcal vaccines to eligible persons included in this time-limited vaccination outbreak response. GMS contractors administrating vaccination will be able claim for an item of service (IOS) payment at the current applicable rate per dose. These vaccinations must be recorded in the Welsh Immunisation System which will write back to the GP record. Claims for payment should be made in line with other claims under this National Supplementary Service.

Funding will be reimbursed to health boards for vaccine supply and delivery costs associated with the programme. This will be included in the finance letters for health board finance directors, which are due to be issued shortly.

Information for healthcare professionals and eligible individuals

Clinical guidance is contained in the Meningococcal chapter of the Green Book. Further clinical information is also be available from the UKHSA document: Meningococcal B: vaccine information for healthcare professionals - GOV.UK, which is due to be updated to reflect this time-limited offer. A summary of this information can be found in Annex 3.

Healthcare practitioner information and guidance on this time limited meningococcal group B (MenB) vaccination programme, including a webinar and training slide set are being developed. Resources to support this programme will be available here:

Resources on protection against meningitis and sepsis will be available to order from:

A Vaccination Record Card is also available to order from the above links. These are recommended for individuals to track doses, particularly where vaccinations may be received across different countries.

Public information on meningitis and meningococcal disease, the MenB vaccine and information on vaccination for young people and students is available here:

Patient Group Directions

UKHSA has PGD templates available for MenB as a reference resource for health boards to develop and authorise for use locally. Templates can be found on the Welsh Medicines Advice Service's page for Patient Group Directions (PGD): Patient Group Directions (PGD) - Welsh Medicines Advice Service

Communications and engagement

Invitations for first dose vaccination appointment must be sent by health boards to all individuals born between 01/09/2007 and 31/08/2008 (17 to 18 years old). Public Health Wales will provide a template letter.

The communications approach will need to be robust. Cohort 2 will not receive an invitation letter, and it is therefore vital they are aware of the need to contact their local health board by phone or via their website and not contact GPs or pharmacies.

Public Health Wales will update their communication materials to support public awareness of this time limited vaccination offer amongst those eligible. Resources are being updated for healthcare professionals (see above) and public facing web content will be updated, targeted at the eligible groups and shared with relevant stakeholders to publicise.

This is also an opportunity to remind people of the risks of meningococcal disease from smoking, namely, that individuals who smoke or are exposed to second hand smoke are at a higher risk of contracting meningococcal disease. Smokers are more likely to carry the bacterium in their throat, increasing with the associated risk of transmission to others. Regarding vaping, there is more limited evidence, but meningococci live in the back of the nose and throat and spread through respiratory droplets and direct saliva contact, such as kissing and sharing drinks, bottles, or utensils.

Surveillance and evaluation

Vaccination activity will be recorded in the Welsh Immunisation System (WIS) and this information will write back to the Welsh GP record where the patient is registered in Wales. Public Health Wales will compile a report detailing how much vaccination activity has been undertaken during the time limited programme for the 17 to 18 year old cohort, which should be used to assist health board plans in the event of future MenB outbreaks.

NHS oversight and assurance of vaccination programme planning and delivery is through Vaccination Programme Wales. The Vaccination Programme Wales team will work with health boards on implementing the programme outlined in this circular.

Any planning or operational queries should be directed to: VPW.Enquiries@wales.nhs.uk.

For clinical queries or queries about programme resources, please email: phw.vaccines@wales.nhs.uk.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in the national vaccination programmes in Wales. The introduction of this time limited programme provides us with an opportunity to protect those at highest risk against infection and severity of illness from this serious disease. I am extremely grateful for the work and commitment shown in planning and delivering the programme.

Yours sincerely,

Dr Keith Reid

Deputy Chief Medical Officer (Public Health)

Annex 1

Welsh Health Board contacts

Annex 2

A list of higher education and residential further education establishments across Wales is below:

List of Higher Education establishments in Wales:

Aberystwyth University
Bangor University
Cardiff University
Cardiff Metropolitan University
Swansea University
University of South Wales (Cardiff, Newport and Pontypridd)
University of Wales Trinity Saint David (Lampeter, Swansea, and Carmarthen)
Wrexham University

List of further education establishments with residential provision in Wales:

Atlantic College (Vale of Glamorgan)
Beechwood College (Vale of Glamorgan)
Bevan College (Bridgend)
Cambian Pengwern College (Rhuddlan, Denbighshire)
Coleg Cambria (Llysfasi campus Wrexham)
Coleg Elidyr (near Llandovery, Carmarthenshire)
Coleg Plas Dwbl (Clynderwen, Pembrokeshire)
Gower College (Swansea)
Grŵp Llandrillo Menai (Glynllifon campus)

A list of relevant Welsh education institutions can be found here: Older children and young adult vaccinations | GOV.WALES

Approaches to delivery of vaccination vary across the four nations within the UK. Given the level of mobility in the age groups for whom this time-limited offer is available, it is likely that a proportion of eligible young people may seek at least one of their vaccine doses in England, Scotland, or Northern Ireland or in the Crown Dependencies.

Further details of eligibility in the four nations across the UK, how young people can access vaccination depending on where they live, and lists of residential further education settings where relevant, can be found here: Meningococcal B (MenB) time limited vaccination offer - GOV.UK

Annex 3

Recommendations for the administration of MenB vaccination

Administration

1. Bexsero^®is administered intramuscularly into the deltoid muscle of the upper arm. Further information about immunisation procedures, including injection technique can be found in Chapter 4 of the Green Book.

Co-administration

2. Meningococcal vaccines can be given at the same time as any other vaccines required but should be given at a different site, and preferably into a different limb. Please refer to the Meningococcal chapter of Immunisation Against Infectious Disease (the Green Book) for more information.

Dosage

3. Bexsero^® vaccine is supplied as a white opalescent liquid suspension (0.5mL) in a pre-filled syringe (10-dose pack) for injection. One dose (0.5mL) contains 50 micrograms each of NHBA, NadA and fHbp and 25 micrograms of OMV. Further information can be found in the Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC).

Contraindications

4. There are very few individuals who cannot receive meningococcal vaccine. The vaccines should not be given to those who have had:

a confirmed anaphylactic reaction to a previous dose of the vaccine
a confirmed anaphylactic reaction to any component or residue from the manufacturing process

Please see chapter 22 of the Green Book and SPC for more information.

Vaccination of individuals with unknown or incomplete vaccination status

5. Vaccination courses delivered to young people as part of the Canterbury, Weymouth and Reading MenB responses, or as part of the gonorrhoea vaccination programme, may mean that some individuals present to clinics having already received at least one dose of MenB (Bexsero^®) vaccination. It is also likely that a proportion of the eligible cohort will have taken up at least one dose via the private market and international students may have received a dose or course of vaccination outside of the UK.

6. Proof of receipt of prior vaccination will be assessed based on:

relevant entries in the GP record
presentation of a MenB vaccination record card
presentation of a written or virtual (for example, app) record of dose(s) delivered via a private provider

7. The below summarises recommendations regarding administration of vaccination to individuals with incomplete vaccination status, depending on the number of prior doses received, and of which specific vaccine product. Further detail on the whether the course is considered complete with respect to dosing intervals is set out in the Information for Healthcare Practitioners document for MenB vaccination.

People who have received 1 dose of Bexsero®

Give 1 dose of Bexsero® now.

If a person has previously received 1 dose of Bexsero®, they should receive a second dose to complete the course. The second dose should be given at least 28 days after the first dose.

People who have received 2 doses of Bexsero® within the last 5 years

No further doses are needed.

If a person completed a 2-dose course of Bexsero® within the last 5 years, no further vaccination is required.

People who have received 2 doses of Bexsero® 5 or more years ago

Give 1 dose of Bexsero® now.

If a person completed a 2-dose course of Bexsero® 5 or more years ago, they should be offered a single booster dose of Bexsero®.

People who have completed a 2-dose or 3-dose course of Trumenba® within the last 5 years

No further doses are needed.

If a person completed a course of Trumenba® within the last 5 years, no further vaccination is required.

Two doses given at least 6 months apart are considered equivalent to a 3-dose course.

People who have completed a 2-dose or 3-dose course of Trumenba® 5 or more years ago

Start a full 2-dose course of Bexsero® now.

Two doses of Trumenba® given at least 6 months apart are considered equivalent to a 3-dose course.

Trumenba® and Bexsero® vaccines are not interchangeable. If a person completed a course of Trumenba® 5 or more years ago, they should be offered a new 2-dose course of Bexsero®.

People who have had a partial course of Trumenba®

This includes:

1 dose of Trumenba®, or
2 doses given less than 6 months apart

Offer a 2-dose course of Bexsero®.

Alternatively, the person may choose to complete the Trumenba® schedule outside the national programme.

There is no specific evidence on the best interval between Trumenba® and Bexsero®. However, an interval of at least 4 weeks is advised.

8. Where an eligible individual is uncertain about their vaccination history and is unable to produce any evidence of prior vaccination when they present, a 2 dose course of Bexsero® should commence rather than risk leaving them unprotected. In clinical trials, no increase in the incidence or severity of the adverse reactions to Bexsero® vaccination (commonly pain at the injection site, malaise and headache) was seen with the administration of further doses.

Inadvertent early administration of the second dose

9. The recommended schedule for Bexsero® vaccine is 2 doses, with the second dose given a minimum of 28 days after the first dose. Vaccinators should adhere to the recommended 28-day interval. If the second dose is inadvertently given from 21 days after the first dose, this will count as a valid dose. However, if the second dose is inadvertently given earlier than 21 days after the first dose, this dose should be discounted as this may lead to a reduced immune response. The dose should be repeated, ensuring an interval of at least 28 days from the dose that was inadvertently given early. Note: 21 days is off-label.

Consent

10. Guidance on informed consent can be found in chapter 2 of the Green Book.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

11. Meningococcal vaccines may be given to pregnant women when clinically indicated. There is in addition no evidence of risk from vaccinating pregnant women or those who are breastfeeding.

Side effects

12. For Bexsero®, the most common local and systemic adverse reactions observed in adolescents and adults are pain at the injection site, malaise, and headache. Most symptoms resolve within 1 to 2 days but can also be managed with paracetamol where needed.