Our student campaign 2026 urges eligible young people to get their menB vaccinations and to know the signs and symptoms of meningitis.
As students make plans to go off to college and university for the first time, we are encouraging them to get their free menB vaccinations being offered by the government.
We also urge all students and young adults to recognise the signs & symptoms of meningitis and 'sound the alarm' if anyone they know is ill and getting worse.
Why are first year university students at risk?
Students can be more vulnerable to meningitis when they come together from all over the world to live, study and socialise together. They will be exposed to bacteria and viruses their bodies have not met before. This is why so many new students get ‘freshers' flu’.
Early symptoms of meningitis are often mistaken for flu or even a hangover, so it’s imperative that students know the signs and symptoms of meningitis, and are not afraid to call 999 if they recognise any in themselves or friends.
Through our annual student campaign we strive to empower young people to be a support system for each other when away from home for the first time at university.
MenB vaccination programme
During summer 2026, a million eligible young people across the UK can access a free, lifesaving MenB vaccine.
Teenagers and young people are the second most at-risk group for contracting meningitis, and MenB is one of the most common causes of meningitis amongst young people. Meningitis can kill within hours or leave survivors with life-changing after-effects – including limb loss, hearing loss and acquired brain injury.
Vaccination is the only way to prevent meningitis. Following MenB outbreaks in Kent, Dorset and Berkshire, a one-off MenB vaccination programme has been introduced for young people in the UK.
The NHS’s one-off MenB vaccination programme is being offered to:
- Everyone in England and Wales born between 1 September 2007 and 31 August 2008 (Year 13 school leavers).
- Equivalent final-year school students in Scotland and Northern Ireland (Year 14 or S6).
- Those under 25 who will be attending university, or living in further education accommodation or halls of residence, for the first time in autumn 2026. This includes eligible students from the UK, Crown Dependencies and international students.
Two doses of the MenB vaccine are required for maximum protection. The second dose must be given at least four weeks after the first. The vaccine is fully effective two weeks after the second dose.
Therefore, the whole process takes six weeks from start to finish. This is why it’s important for eligible young people to get a first dose as early as possible, ideally well before the autumn term begins if they are starting further education.
Prioritise health and well-being
When there are parties to attend, new coursework to get stuck into, and new friends to meet, it can be hard to prioritise health and well-being, but making students aware of the risks of meningitis could, and has, saved lives.
We have been working with universities for many years to equip them with the information and materials to raise meningitis awareness. We have a range of materials available for colleges and universities which you can download here.
Ensuring universities, parents and young people understand the signs and symptoms of meningitis, and access the vaccines they are eligible for, is the crux of our ongoing work highlighting the risks to young people going away to university for the first time.
