Meningitis B Vaccination
*** Meningitis B Vaccination Now In Stock ***
The Trumenba® Meningitis B vaccine is now in stock. This vaccine is suitable for anyone aged over 10 years. Both standard (2-dose) and rapid (3-dose for faster protection) schedules are also now available. Please see our FAQ section below for more information about Trumenba®.
If the vaccine is not showing as “available” when you try to book, this may be because of current high demand: please simply add your name to our waiting list here, and we will contact you when bookings are open again.
Meningitis is a bacterial infection which causes the inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. The “B” strain of meningococcal meningitis currently accounts for the majority of cases of meningitis in the UK, and the majority of deaths.
Meningitis B is most common in babies under 1, but can affect anyone. Whilst the infection is treatable, it can be fatal in about 1 in 10 cases. The meningitis B vaccine represents a major technological breakthrough: for many years, it seemed that a vaccine against B strains of meningitis would be too difficult to produce.
Who should be vaccinated against meningitis B?
The meningitis B vaccine is normally recommended for babies but can be given to anyone who needs protection.
In the UK, the Bexsero meningitis B vaccine is usually given to babies at 8 and 16 weeks, with a booster at 1 year. The UK vaccination programme began in 2015.
The Trumenba meningitis B vaccine for over-10s has been available since 2017. In view of the recent outbreaks, many young adults are currently seeking vaccination, especially if they have not previously been vaccinated or completed a course, and Trumenba is suitable for these age groups, offering good protection.
Meningitis vaccines are recommended for people with some long-term health conditions (such as splenectomy) who are at greater risk of serious health complications following a meningitis infection.
Vaccination against meningitis B appears to confer cross-protection against the gonococcal bacteria that cause gonorrhoea, that share some characteristics with the meningococcal bacteria that cause meningitis. Meningitis B vaccination may therefore also be appropriate for sexually active adults.
How many doses of the Meningitis B vaccine are required?
Children aged 2 to 10 years require 2 vaccine doses with at least a 2-month interval between the doses.
Adults and Adolescents (from 11 years) require 2 doses of Bexsero with at least a 1-month interval between the doses.
With Trumenba, two doses are also required, six months apart.
An accelerated three-dose schedule is now also available, with 2 doses a month apart, followed by a further dose 4 months later, for faster protection.
The need and timing of booster in order to maintain protection have not been fully established. One of our nurses will explain the vaccination programme in more detail during your appointment.
How does the vaccine work?
The vaccines we use are 'Bexsero' and 'Trumenba' - they contain major proteins from group B Neisseria meningitidis bacteria.
They work by stimulating the immune system to protect against future exposures to meningococcal bacteria. Bexsero and Trumenba are not live vaccines. They are both “recombinant” vaccines and are very safe.
What is meningitis B?
Meningitis B is a bacterial infection caused by the B strain of Neiseria meningitidis bacteria.
Like other types of meningococcal meningitis, meningitis B infection causes infection and inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
It can also lead to blood poisoning (septicaemia).
Meningitis B can progress quickly and can kill within 24 hours.
Prior to the introduction of the vaccine, meningitis B killed more children under the age of 5 years old than any other infectious disease. Even with treatment, 20 percent of survivors can be left with long-term disabilities or brain damage.
How is meningitis B spread?
Meningitis B spreads from person-to-person via droplets, or by close personal contact.
Like other types of meningococcal meningitis, infection spreads via infectious droplets and can be transmitted from person to person by close or prolonged contact, including kissing, coughing, sneezing or spending time in close proximity to an infected individual.
What are the symptoms of meningitis B?
The symptoms of all strains of meningococcal disease include:
- High temperature
- Neck stiffness
- Cold hands and feet
- Nausea or vomiting/ diarrhoea
- Muscle and joint pain
- A spotty purple rash consisting of tiny blood spots in the skin – that does not blanch fade under pressure
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Fantastic place, very very professional , Nurse Becky is very friendly , knows exactly what to do, listens , gives options, and makes the whole process easy… would highly recommend.
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Had 2 vaccinations done recently with Chiara and she was amazing. Super attentive and caring and overall a great experience both times!
Tara Goulet
The entire staff at Fleet Street were incredibly kind, empathic, and knowledgeable. I appreciated the professionalism and bedside manner, and highly recommend this clinic if you need fast, efficient service, are traveling, and don't have insurance.
Paul Vella
Excellent service, had a private Covid and Flu vaccination here arrived early and was called in by the nurse almost immediately, very pleasant surroundings and lovely stuff would use again worth £125 to get protected as not eligible for free vaccinations.
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I recently sought treatment at Fleet Street Clinic for painful ears; I was quickly diagnosed by Dr Hartmann. He prescribed ear drops and arranged an appointment for me a week later with Lucy Mildren. Within a week my ears were better. Everything was very efficient and I was treated with care and skill.
FAQs
Trumenba is a vaccine against Meningitis B, manufactured by Pfizer. It has been licensed in the UK since 2017 for vaccination of those aged over 10.
It is not licensed for babies or children under ten, who have been the main target age group in the UK until now. It is therefore understandably less familiar than the more widely used vaccine Bexsero, but has become an important part of the response to the recent outbreak of meningitis B.
Trumenba can be given to anyone aged 10 years old and above.
No, Trumenba is only licensed to use in children over 10 years of age. If your child is under 10 years old, they will need to receive a different brand of vaccination called Bexsero.
Most individuals will need to have two doses of the vaccination to be protected, given 6 months apart.
Some people may need to have three doses given on month 0, 1 and 5, for people who have problems with their immune system, or for faster protection.
We believe these vaccines remain effective for approximately 5 years.
This is not yet fully known.
This is not known – there are no data available for now. Where possible, the same vaccine should be used to complete a course.
This is not known with certainty. We believe protection wanes after about 5 years. In the absence of Bexsero, at least one dose of Trumenba would be needed to reinstate protection. We will send a reminder for a second dose to be given at 6 months. If, with the benefit of more data, we conclude that a single further dose is sufficient, we will publish this advice on our website.
The cost is £185 per dose, plus a £28 appointment fee.
No, the vaccination is not live and cannot cause meningitis disease.
Both Bexsero and Trumenba are inactivated vaccines and have no more side effects than any other routine immunisations that are given. Mild side effects can include a headache, muscle and joint aches, fatigue and chills.
Your child will start to develop protection a few weeks after receiving their first dose and will have longer term protection after the second dose.
There are no known interactions between Bexsero or Trumenba and any other vaccinations. There is no need to delay vaccinating your child even if they have recently received any other vaccinations
No, the vaccination does not contain any gelatine or egg.
Meningitis B vaccine is highly effective, providing protection in the range of 85 to 100 percent. In the three years following its introduction in the UK, the overall number of cases of meningitis B in infants fell by 75%
In infants and children, the most common reaction has been a fever and some swelling around the injection site.
Infant paracetamol is sometimes recommended for small children. Our staff will give you advice about any likely side effects during your appointment.
Yes, of course. We have long experience of vaccinating and looking after children. We regularly vaccinate and look patients who also utilise the services of the NHS.
We will record details of any vaccines we give so that your child’s records can be updated.
The vaccine is available on the NHS to children born after May 1, 2015. If your child was born before this date, they will not have been offered the vaccine as part of their routine NHS immunisation schedule.
You can choose to vaccinate them privately and as with most vaccinations, it is never too late to vaccinate. Unvaccinated people can catch meningitis B at any age.
Your child’s vaccination history is recorded in a red book. Please bring this with you when they attend for vaccination so that we can keep their vaccination records accurate and up to date.
If you forget to bring it we can always update it subsequently.
Most vaccines become fully effective shortly after completion of the course.
There are several distinct strains of meningococcal bacteria, each requiring different vaccines for protection.
Two important vaccines are available.
Meningitis B vaccine protects only against the B strain.
Meningitis ACWY vaccine provides protection agains the A, C, W-135, and Y strains, and is given separately.
