Know the facts, get the vaccine
Both George and Izzy were taken by Meningitis Group B
There are many different groups of meningococcal bacteria which cause meningitis. There is a vaccine to protect against ACWY that is free on the NHS, however it will not protect against MenB – a bacterial form of meningitis which like the ACWY strains, can be lethal in hours.
What is the MenB vaccine?
The MenB vaccine helps to protect against disease caused by meningococcal group B (MenB) bacteria. MenB is the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in the UK.
The vaccine is currently (since 2015) only available free on the NHS to babies. However, you can get the MenB vaccination privately. A variety of pharmacies (including Boots and Superdrug) travel clinics and private GP practices offer the vaccination at a cost.
You should expect to pay around £100 per dose. Two doses of the vaccination are required, protection following one dose is limited. The brand name of the MenB vaccine used in the UK is Bexsero – you may hear it referred to this name too.
MenB Vaccination Trial
The University of Oxford has recently launched a vaccine group trial: Be On The Team.
After successfully completing the recruitment target of 24,000 Year 12 students at the end of 2019, the study stopped early in response to the Covid-19 panamedic in March 2020.
The University of Oxford are currently processing the data collected to determine whether the MenB vaccine reduces the carriage of this bacteria in the throats of teenagers.
Teens for Tomorrow works in association with Meningitis Now as a signposting
organisation to ensure young people know the facts around meningitis and septicaemia.
Teens for Tomorrow is not a medical organisation and is not a charity.
© Copyright Teens For Tomorrow 2021
Teens For Tomorrow 