Which babies should have the Men B vaccine?

The Men B vaccine is a routine childhood vaccination that will be offered on the NHS from September 1 2015 to all babies born on or after July 1 2015.

The vaccine, which protects against meningitis and septicaemia (blood poisoning), will be given as an injection into the left thigh at the same time as the other routine childhood vaccinations at:

• 2 months
• 4 months
• 12-13 months

There will also be a "catch-up" vaccination programme for babies born between May 1 2015 and June 30 2015 who are due their 3- and 4-month vaccinations on or after September 1 2015. This will protect them in time for when they are most at risk of Men B infection.

Which babies should not have the Men B vaccine?

There are very few babies who cannot have the Men B vaccine.

The Men B vaccine should not be given to a baby who:

• has had an allergic or anaphylactic reaction to a previous dose of the Men B vaccine or any of the substances in it.
• is ill with a fever; in this instance, put off the vaccination until they have recovered; babies who have a minor illness without a fever, such as a cold, can have the vaccination as normal

The Men B vaccine and other vaccines

It's safe for your baby to have the Men B vaccine at the same time as other routine childhood vaccines, including the 5-in-1 vaccine,  Men C vaccine and MMR vaccine. Where possible, each vaccine will be given in different limbs.

What happens if my baby misses their vaccination appointment?

If your baby missed the vaccination appointment, or if vaccination was delayed, then make a new appointment with your GP as soon as possible.

Babies who missed their first Men B vaccination at 2 months of age can start later. Those who received some of their Men B vaccinations, but are not fully up-to-date with the schedule, can catch up on any vaccinations they may have missed previously. However, only babies born on or after May 1 2015 will be eligible to receive Men B vaccination (with those born between May 1 and June 30 receiving the vaccine as part of a catch-up programme).

Last Updated: 17/02/2022 16:09:00
The information on this page has been adapted by NHS Wales from original content supplied by NHS website nhs.uk