Only 19.4% of eligible 18 and 19-year-olds have completed both doses of the meningitis B (MenB) vaccine, prompting health leaders to urge hundreds of thousands to come forward before the Christmas party season and the 31 December deadline for the first dose.
New figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), covering uptake up to 31 October, show that just 228,297 out of 809,957 eligible young adults have received their first dose. This means just over a quarter (28.2%) have had the first jab, while hundreds of thousands have yet to take up the offer at all.
One-off programme launched after outbreaks
The one-off vaccination programme was launched earlier this year following outbreaks that claimed the lives of three young people. Those born between 1 September 2007 and 31 August 2008 are being urged to receive both doses, with health leaders cautioning that "time is running out" to get protected.
The programme is also available to those aged under 25 who began university, or residential further education, for the first time this autumn. The deadline for receiving the first dose of the vaccine is 31 December, and the programme is set to run through until 31 March next year.
Experts warn of mixing risks
Dr Shamez Ladhani, consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: "Worryingly, only just over a quarter of 18 and 19-year-olds have had their first dose of the MenB vaccine and time is running out to get both doses and protect yourself from this devastating disease."
"The deadline for getting your first dose is December 31, so please don't leave it until the end of term or forget it amongst all the Christmas and other holiday festivities. Parties and gatherings inevitably lead to increased mixing with others which raises the risk of meningococcal disease spreading among young people. Book your appointment now."
Public health minister Dame Diana Johnson said: "It is great that so many young people have received their MenB jab and I pay tribute to all the NHS staff and pharmacies up and down the country who have made this programme possible. But many of the young people who are eligible for this jab have still not taken it up and they are currently missing out on the chance to protect themselves against this terrible disease."
University students at heightened risk
University students are particularly at heightened risk of contracting the disease that leads to meningitis, owing to their "social mixing patterns". Prior research has established that first-year university students face a risk approximately seven times greater than that of their peers who do not attend university.
Juliette Kenny, 18, lost her life during the Kent outbreak, and her family have since been campaigning for teenagers and young adults to be given routine access to the MenB vaccine. The Kent outbreak was the largest and fastest-growing of its kind ever recorded in the UK, and several smaller clusters of meningitis among young people since then have proved more widespread than anticipated.
Living in close proximity in halls of residence, shared houses and attending social gatherings can significantly heighten the risk of contracting MenB. Cases typically reach their peak between October and November. Available data indicates that the MenB vaccine is highly effective, offering strong protection for a minimum of five years following vaccination. The two doses must be administered 28 days apart.
