💙 Free NHS MenB Vaccination at Prescriptions Pharmacy

Time-limited meningitis B vaccination service at The Kiosk in Prescot

💉 Protect Yourself Against Meningitis B

Prescriptions Pharmacy is providing the new, time-limited NHS meningococcal B vaccination service from our pharmacy at The Kiosk in Prescot.

Eligible young people can receive a course of up to 2 free NHS MenB vaccinations, with the second dose normally given at least 28 days after the first.

📅 First doses are available until 31 December 2026. Second doses can be given until 31 March 2027.

📍 Local MenB Vaccinations in Prescot

The NHS programme is being delivered through participating community pharmacies, giving eligible young people greater flexibility over where they receive their vaccinations.

At Prescriptions Pharmacy, you can access the service locally at:

Prescriptions Pharmacy
The Kiosk
South Avenue / Manchester Road
Prescot
L34 1LT

🏫 You may receive your first dose near home and your second dose near your place of study, provided the correct minimum interval has passed.

🎓 Why Is This Vaccine Being Offered?

The one-off NHS MenB vaccination offer follows several meningococcal B outbreaks involving young people.

Young people entering university or residential further education may be at greater risk because they are often living, studying and socialising closely with large groups of new people.

First-year university students have been found to have a significantly higher risk of meningococcal disease than young people of a similar age who are not attending university.

🛡️ Vaccination is being offered ahead of the 2026/27 academic year to help protect those considered to be at highest risk.

🧠 What Is Meningitis B?

Meningococcal group B bacteria can cause serious illnesses including meningitis, septicaemia and sepsis.

Meningitis affects the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Septicaemia occurs when the infection enters the bloodstream.

Although meningococcal disease is uncommon, it can develop very quickly and may lead to severe illness, permanent disability or death.

⚠️ The vaccination service is preventative. Anyone who currently has symptoms suggesting meningitis or sepsis should seek urgent medical attention rather than waiting for a pharmacy appointment.

🧩 Am I Eligible for a Free NHS MenB Vaccine?

You may be eligible if you are in one of the following groups:

🎂 You were born between 1 September 2007 and 31 August 2008

🎓 You were born on or after 21 July 2001 and are starting undergraduate higher education for the first time in autumn 2026

🏠 You were born on or after 21 July 2001 and are starting further education for the first time in autumn 2026, where you will live in eligible residential accommodation or halls of residence

🎖️ Eligible military personnel starting at an approved military further-education setting may also qualify.

🌍 The programme can include eligible international students and students from Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

❌ Who Is Not Normally Included?

Unless you qualify through the specified date-of-birth group, the programme does not normally include:

❌ Existing second-year, third-year or other continuing university students

❌ Postgraduate students

❌ People who have previously entered higher or further education and are not entering for the first time in autumn 2026

❌ Further-education students who will not be living in eligible residential accommodation

❌ People who fall outside the stated age and education-entry criteria

💬 Contact Prescriptions Pharmacy if you are unsure whether your course, institution or accommodation meets the NHS requirements.

2️⃣ Your MenB Vaccination Schedule

1️⃣ Dose one: Book this as soon as possible.

2️⃣ Dose two: Normally administered at least 28 days after dose one.

🛡️ A good level of protection is expected around 2 weeks after the second dose.

Where possible, you should complete both doses before starting university or moving into residential further education.

📍 Both vaccinations do not need to be given at the same pharmacy. Remember to keep a record of your first dose if you plan to receive your second vaccination elsewhere.

💉 What If I Have Had a MenB Vaccine Before?

Your previous MenB vaccination history will be checked before any vaccine is administered.

If you have previously received one dose of Bexsero®, you may only require one further dose, depending on when the first vaccination was given.

If you completed a 2-dose Bexsero® course within the last 5 years, you will not normally need another course through this programme.

If your completed Bexsero® course was 5 or more years ago, you may be offered one additional dose.

If you previously received Trumenba®, your vaccination history will need individual assessment because Bexsero® and Trumenba® are different vaccines and are not interchangeable.

📝 Bring any available vaccine card, GP record, app record or evidence from a previous private vaccination provider.

🧬 About the Bexsero® Vaccine

The vaccine being used for this NHS programme is Bexsero®.

Bexsero® is a non-live, protein-based vaccine. It cannot cause meningitis B.

🌱 The vaccine used for the programme does not contain animal products.

Bexsero® has an established safety record and is already used within the routine NHS childhood vaccination programme.

⚠️ No vaccine provides complete protection. Bexsero® protects against many, but not all, meningococcal B strains and does not protect against every other cause of meningitis.

🛡️ Is MenB the Same as MenACWY?

No. Many young people have previously received the MenACWY vaccine through the school vaccination programme.

MenACWY protects against meningococcal groups A, C, W and Y. It does not protect against meningococcal group B.

✅ You should still receive the MenB vaccine if you meet the eligibility criteria, even if you have already received MenACWY.

📄 What Do I Need to Bring?

If you qualify through the specified Year 13 date-of-birth group, your eligibility will normally be checked using your date of birth and available clinical records.

If your eligibility is based on starting university or residential further education, bring evidence of your place. This can include:

📧 An official university or college offer email

📄 An official offer letter

📱 A screenshot of your offer through the UCAS Hub

🎖️ An official joining letter for an eligible military further-education setting

Your evidence should identify the institution, the course or programme and confirmation of your conditional or unconditional offer for the 2026/27 academic year.

🪪 Bring suitable identification where available

💉 Bring any record of previous MenB vaccinations

👩‍⚕️ What Happens at My Appointment?

🔎 We will confirm your age and NHS eligibility

📄 We will check any education-entry evidence required

📝 We will ask about your health, allergies, medicines and vaccination history

💬 The vaccine and possible side effects will be explained

✅ Your consent will be obtained before vaccination

💉 The vaccine is normally administered into the upper arm

📅 We will explain when your second dose is due

📋 Your vaccination will be recorded securely and shared with the relevant NHS vaccination systems and your GP record where applicable.

🤕 Possible Side Effects

Like all vaccines, Bexsero® can cause side effects. Common effects in young people and adults include:

💪 Pain, tenderness, redness or swelling where the injection was given

🤕 Headache

😴 Tiredness or feeling generally unwell

🤢 Feeling sick

🦵 Muscle or joint discomfort

🌡️ A mild fever

✅ These effects are usually mild and normally improve within 1 or 2 days. Serious allergic reactions are rare.

🚨 Recognising Meningitis and Sepsis

🌟 Why Choose Prescriptions Pharmacy?

💙 Free NHS vaccination for eligible young people

📍 Local vaccination appointments at The Kiosk in Prescot

💉 Appropriately trained and experienced vaccinators

🔐 Private and confidential consultation facilities

🏥 Fully registered NHS community pharmacy

📅 Support completing both doses of your vaccination course

🎓 Flexible access for young people preparing to begin their studies

📘 Book Your Free NHS MenB Vaccine

🎂 Born Between 1 September 2007 and 31 August 2008

People in the 2025/26 Year 13 date-of-birth group can use the NHS National Booking Service to arrange their vaccination.

Book or manage your NHS MenB appointment

🔎 When asked to search for a pharmacy, enter postcode L34 1LT and select Prescriptions Pharmacy.

📞 Call 119 if you are unable to use the online booking service. Translation support is available.

🎓 Starting University or Residential Further Education

If you qualify because you are entering undergraduate university or eligible residential further education for the first time, contact Prescriptions Pharmacy directly to arrange your vaccination.

📧 prescriptionspharmacy@gmail.com

📍 Prescriptions Pharmacy
The Kiosk
South Avenue / Manchester Road
Prescot
L34 1LT

📄 Bring evidence of your university, residential further-education or eligible military further-education place.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Is the MenB vaccination free?
✅ Yes. The vaccine is free through the NHS for people who meet the programme’s eligibility requirements.

Do I need a GP referral?
❌ No. Eligible patients can access the service directly through a participating community pharmacy.

Do I need an NHS number?
❌ No. You should not be refused solely because you do not have an NHS number or are not registered with a GP.

Do I need to wait for an invitation?
❌ No. Eligible patients can arrange vaccination without waiting for an invitation, although the NHS may contact some people in the Year 13 date-of-birth group.

Are 2 doses necessary?
✅ Yes. Two doses are recommended for maximum protection, normally given at least 28 days apart.

Can another pharmacy give my second dose?
✅ Yes. Your second vaccination can be administered by another participating pharmacy.

I have already received MenACWY. Do I still need MenB?
✅ Yes, if you are eligible. MenACWY does not protect against meningococcal group B disease.

I have previously had a MenB vaccine. Can I still use the service?
💉 Possibly. This will depend on which vaccine you received, the number of doses and when they were given.

Do university and college entrants need evidence?
📄 Yes. Bring an official offer letter, email, UCAS Hub screenshot or other acceptable evidence of your eligible place.

Can international students receive the vaccine?
🌍 Yes, provided they meet the age and first-time university or residential further-education requirements.

When does the NHS programme end?
📅 First doses must be given by 31 December 2026. Second doses can be administered until 31 March 2027.