Asda has announced its support for a new NHS vaccine push, urging eligible Brits to get the Meningitis B (MenB) jab in the coming weeks. The supermarket chain is helping the NHS roll out free vaccines at Asda Pharmacies as part of a catch-up campaign targeting students heading to university this autumn.
Eligibility and Booking Details
Free MenB vaccines are available to 17- and 18-year-olds in their last year of sixth form, as well as students under 25 attending residential colleges or university for the first time. Appointments can be booked through the National Booking Service, with the first slots available from Monday, July 20. The NHS expects around one million young people to be eligible.
Risk and Importance of Vaccination
The NHS warns that Meningococcal B can cause life-threatening conditions such as meningitis and sepsis, leading to amputations, hearing loss, brain damage, or death. Students in their first year face a risk about seven times higher than non-students of the same age due to close contact with others. Dr Tom Nutt, chief executive of Meningitis Now, said: "We warmly welcome Asda Pharmacy's support for the NHS MenB vaccination programme. MenB remains the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in the UK, and teenagers and young adults are among those at greatest risk."
Private Vaccination and Rewards
For those not eligible for the free jab, Asda Pharmacies offer private MenB vaccinations at competitive prices. Between July 20 and August 31, customers purchasing a private MenB vaccine will receive £5 in their Asda Rewards Cashpot. Asda says its in-store pharmacies already offer the most competitively priced private MenB vaccination service in the UK.
Campaign to Reduce Meningitis Impact
Dr Nutt added: "We also recognise the value of making vaccination more accessible for those not eligible for the NHS programme. At Meningitis Now, our No Plan B for MenB campaign has long called for better protection." The NHS advises booking now to allow time for both doses before term starts. 2026 has seen more MenB clusters than usual, with an outbreak in Kent claiming two lives.
