Meningococcal B Disease – It’s Not Too Late to Protect Your Child

Many parents are not aware that children born before 2016 may not have received the MenB vaccine as part of their routine childhood immunisations. This leaves some children and young people at risk from Meningococcal B disease, a rare but very serious infection.

Meningococcal B disease can cause meningitis and blood poisoning (sepsis). What makes it especially dangerous is how quickly it can develop—sometimes within hours. Even children who were previously healthy can become seriously ill very suddenly.

Early symptoms can be similar to common illnesses like flu—fever, tiredness, vomiting—but the illness can rapidly progress to more serious signs such as a stiff neck, confusion, severe headache, or a rash that does not fade when pressed. Because it can be difficult to recognise at first, prevention is extremely important.

Since 2016, the MenB vaccine has been included in the routine childhood immunisation programme for infants. However, children born before this time may have missed out on this protection.

The good news is that vaccination can still help protect your child. The MenB vaccine has been widely used and shown to be safe and effective. It helps the immune system recognise and fight the bacteria that cause this life-threatening disease.

You may feel your child is older now and no longer at risk, but meningococcal disease can affect children and teenagers of any age. Ensuring they are vaccinated gives important protection and peace of mind.

If your child was born before 2016 and has not received the MenB vaccine, it is worth speaking to your GP or practice nurse. They can advise you on catch-up vaccination options and whether the vaccine is appropriate for your child.

Protecting your child doesn’t always mean reacting to illness—it can mean preventing it before it starts.

Take a moment to check your child’s vaccination history today.If they missed the MenB vaccine, it’s not too late to act.