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Meningitis: Vaccination

Answer

The Government is committed to stabilising and improving the uptake and access of vaccines, including those that protect against meningitis, across all immunisation programmes. This includes expanding routes to access, such as community pharmacies, as set out in the NHS Vaccination Strategy and the 10-Year Health Plan for England.

General practices (GPs) continue to prioritise the timely delivery of the meningococcal B (MenB) vaccination programme to all eligible children. The school-aged immunisation services are commissioned to deliver a 100% offer of the meningococcal ACWY (MenACWY) vaccine to eligible children. GPs also offer the MenACWY vaccine to those who missed the school-aged offer up to the age of 25.

As part of the vaccination strategy, digital improvements are in place to support the offer of these vaccinations and the data flows to ensure accurate reporting. The roll out of Manage Vaccination In Schools (MAVIS) by NHS England is supporting the offer of vaccines, including MenACWY, to school-aged children by providing a digital platform to improve the consent gaining process, data capture and flow and which sends automated reminders to parents.

We are working to improve vaccine uptake by strengthening training and support to healthcare professionals who have a central role in communicating accurate information about vaccination to parents and teenagers to support informed consent. In addition, national communication campaigns use paid-for marketing, partnerships with charities and influencers, and local stakeholder engagement to raise awareness, address misconceptions and counter misinformation.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

2277

Session

2026-27

Subjects

Meningitis Vaccination Take-up

Link

View this Written question on www.parliament.uk