Frequently Asked Questions

Have I/has my child been vaccinated against meningitis?

MenB vaccine, which protects against meningococcal group B bacteria, has been part of the routine childhood vaccination schedule in the UK since 2015.

Anyone born before 2015 will not have received MenB vaccine as part of their childhood schedule. More specifically, babies born on or after the 1 July 2015 were offered MenB vaccine.

Teenagers are routinely offered the MenACWY vaccine as part of the school immunisation programme, usually in S3 when they are about 14 years old. This vaccine protects against meningococcal groups A, C, W and Y. MenACWY does not protect against meningococcal group B.

 

I have/my child has missed their meningitis vaccine appointment. Who do I contact to arrange vaccination?

Children who have not yet received all their scheduled doses of MenB vaccine can be offered catch-up doses up to 2 years of age. To arrange an appointment call NHS Borders Vaccinaton Hub on 01896 809250.

Anyone who has not yet received their MenACWY vaccine can still get it up until their 25th birthday. This is especially important before starting university or college. To arrange an appointment, contact the Vaccination Hub on the number above.

 

Why can’t I/my child get MenB vaccine?

Recommendations about who should be offered vaccines are made by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, which is an independent expert group that advises the government on vaccine policy. Their recommendations are based on protecting those at highest risk.

While it is very effective at protecting infants against meningococcal disease, the MenB vaccine offers limited impact on reducing nasopharyngeal (nose and throat) carriage and transmission, and it does not cover all circulating MenB strains. The vaccination takes between 3-4 weeks for immunity to fully develop. 

There are currently no plans to offer MenB vaccine routinely to anyone other than infants as part of the routine schedule.

If anyone in Scotland needs the vaccine as part of an outbreak response, they will be contacted directly.

 

Am I at risk of meningitis?

Public health teams in England are responding to an outbreak of group B meningococcal disease in Kent. This situation is local to that area and there is currently no evidence of any increased risk in Scotland. Public Health Scotland are monitoring the situation closely and will provide any updates to current advice as appropriate.

Routine vaccinations provide good protection against infections including meningitis and meningococcal disease, but the bacteria can sometimes escape this protection. Young infants and adolescents are at highest risk of meningococcal disease, especially if not fully vaccinated, but anyone can become seriously unwell from meningitis or septicaemia (sepsis).

Acting quickly saves lives. It is vital for everyone to be aware of the signs and symptoms of meningitis and related disease, and what to do if you have concerns.

What are the symptoms of meningitis?

Symptoms can include:

• fever
• severe headache
• vomiting or diarrhoea
• cold hands and feet
• drowsiness or confusion
• rapid breathing
• stiff neck
• dislike of bright lights
• joint or muscle pain
• a rash that does not fade under a glass

Symptoms can appear in any order and may be mistaken for a cold, flu, or hangover - especially in teenagers and students. For further information, see Meningitis | NHS inform.

If you or anyone you know develops symptoms seek immediate medical help:

Call 111 or your GP if you’re unsure or worried about symptoms or you think you may have been exposed to someone with meningitis.

Call 999 or go to A&E if someone seems seriously unwell.

 

Useful contacts:

NHS Borders Vaccination Hub: 01896 809 250

Meningococcal disease in Kent - News - Public Health Scotland

Meningitis Now | Meningitis charity | Research and awareness

Meningitis | NHS inform

Immunisation | NHS inform

World Health Organization Vaccines and immunization