What are the symptoms of meningitis and how is it spread?

Two vaccines protect against the main causes of meningitis and septicaemia.

The MenACWY vaccine offers protection against four types of bacteria that can cause meningitis - meningococcal groups A, C, W and Y - and is offered to teenagers aged 14 years old. Anyone who missed out can get it for free until their 25th birthday.

The MenB vaccine helps protect against meningococcal group B bacteria and is recommended for babies aged eight weeks, followed by a second dose at 12 weeks and a booster at one year.

The vaccines do not contain any live bacteria and cannot cause meningitis.

Meningitis can sometimes occur as a complication of some other infections, meaning several other vaccinations can also help protect people.

A six-in-one vaccine given to young children - also known as the DTaP/IPV/Hib/Hep B vaccine - offers protection against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B, polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib).

A pneumococcal vaccine offers babies protection against serious infections caused by pneumococcal bacteria, including meningitis.

The MMRV vaccine - which replaced the MMR vaccine in January 2026 - offers infants protection against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox.

The MMR vaccine is free for anyone who missed getting it when they were younger, regardless of their age.

Generally, it takes a couple of weeks to get full protection from a vaccine and some require booster doses.

The MenB vaccine was added to the UK NHS childhood immunisation programme for babies born on or after 1 July 2015.

That means teenagers and young adults over the age of 11 have not received this jab.

Young babies are vaccinated because they are more likely to get invasive infections more often than other age groups, and their bodies are less likely to be able to fight them off.

However, research suggests the MenB vaccine doesn't necessarily prevent transmission of the infection from person to person, doesn't target all the different B bacteria strains and doesn't provide very long-term protection.

But UK vaccine experts now say government should consider routinely offering the vaccine to all teenagers at around age 15. It will be up to ministers in each nation to decide whether to do this.

Additionally, one million young people are now being offered the MenB vaccine in a one-off, targeted programme this summer to help protect them.

All Year 13 pupils - meaning those who could soon leave for university - and anyone under 25 who is starting university or residential further education for the first time this autumn, will be able to get two doses of the vaccine for free on the NHS.

Experts say this population is at higher risk of potentially catching meningitis B which can spread when people live together in shared accommodation.

Invasive meningococcal disease tend to peak in October to November each year, which further heightens the risk.