All teenagers should be offered a vaccine on the NHS to protect against meningitis B at around the age of 15, government advisers have recommended.
The advice by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which needs approval from the government, means youngsters should get a jab around the age of 15, with catch-up programmes for those who would otherwise miss out.
There have been a series of outbreaks of meningitis this year, the most serious in Kent, which left two teenagers dead.
The committee is recommending a booster jab around age 15 for those who had one as a baby (those born on or after 1 May 2015). The first cohort this recommendation applies to will turn 15 in 2030. Children who missed the jab as a baby will be offered two doses.
In addition, JCVI says it strongly supports giving two doses of the meningitis B vaccine to children born on or before 30 April 2015. They would get this when they are around age 15.
This group were not offered the vaccine on the NHS as babies and so have missed out on protection as infants. Offering jabs when they hit their teens protects them when they are next most at risk.
Because it could take a while for any programme to be implemented, JCVI would also like a catch-up programme to ensure anyone who misses a vaccine does not lose out.
The move by JCVI is separate from an announcement last month on a summer programme, which still stands.
Around a million Year 13 pupils and those under 25 starting university this autumn are being offered the meningitis B vaccine on the NHS this summer. This one-off jab programme offers two doses to youngsters aged 17 to 18 in Year 13, plus those aged under 25 going to university or other residential further education this autumn.
Young people are being offered their first dose from 20 July, and a second dose will be given in August. Two doses, at least 28 days apart, are needed for full protection.
Meningitis is an inflammation of the protective membranes of the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms include a high temperature, cold hands and feet, vomiting, rapid breathing and skin changes such as paleness or a rash, which may be harder to see on darker skin.
Babies may also show irritability, a high-pitched cry, body stiffness or floppiness, and a bulging soft spot on their head.
The NHS says anyone concerned should seek immediate medical help rather than waiting for all symptoms or a rash to develop.
The outbreak in Canterbury, Kent, was the fastest growing and largest in the UK, and other smaller clusters of meningitis in young people since then have been bigger than expected.
The family of Juliette Kenny, 18, who died in the Kent outbreak, have been campaigning for teenagers and young people to be routinely given access to the meningitis B vaccine.
Close and prolonged contact in halls of residence, shared homes and at social events can increase the risk of contracting meningitis B. Cases tend to peak in October to November each year.
But data suggests the meningitis B vaccine is highly effective, providing strong protection for at least five years after vaccination.
Wei Shen Lim, the committee chair, said: “We encourage everyone who is eligible to book an appointment online to receive the vaccine at a local pharmacy, in time for the second dose to be received before heading off to university or college.
“For protection, two doses of the meningitis B vaccine are necessary, at least 28 days apart.
“Additionally, JCVI has now also provided government with a recommendation and additional considerations for a future routine meningitis B adolescent vaccination programme for those aged around 15 years.”
Shamez Ladhani, consultant epidemiologist at the UK Health Security Agency, has said previously the likely cause of more meningitis clusters this year is low population immunity against meningitis B.
“The most likely explanation is that we actually have had 25 years of declining cases of meningitis B disease,” he said.
“Now, meningococcal disease cycles go through cycles of 20 to 30 years.
“It goes down when you have good population immunity, and then that immunity goes down and new strains appear where the population doesn’t have immunity against these strains, and then cases start going up again.”