Meningitis B (MenB) accounted for 92% of invasive meningococcal disease cases among infants in England in 2025/26 and all cases among children aged one to four, according to new figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
MenB accounted for 34 of 37 cases among infants and all 35 cases among children aged one to four.
The UKHSA said the figures underline the importance of parents ensuring infants receive all three MenB vaccinations on time as part of the routine childhood programme.
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A total of 348 cases of invasive meningococcal disease were confirmed in England during the year, with 26 deaths recorded.
MenB was also responsible for 97% of cases among 15- to 24-year-olds, accounting for 93 of 96 cases.
A one-off, time-limited MenB vaccination programme for young people was launched this summer following outbreaks among young people in Kent, Dorset and Berkshire.
A cluster in the Canterbury area in March 2026 was associated with 21 cases among students and other young people, while the Dorset and Berkshire outbreaks each involved at least three cases.
Three people died across the outbreaks, while some survivors have been left with long-term health consequences.
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The current vaccination programme primarily targets school leavers and first-year university and other higher education undergraduates.
First-year university students face a risk of meningococcal disease that is around seven times higher than that of young people of a similar age who do not attend university.
The NHS had administered 246,089 doses by 31 August, but the UKHSA said that thousands more school leavers and first-year undergraduates remained eligible ahead of university freshers’ week.
Dr Shamez Ladhani, consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: ‘The MenB vaccine offer for students and young people is now underway – it’s absolutely vital that everyone eligible gets their two doses, ideally before term starts or as soon as possible.’
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The MenB vaccine does not protect against all infections that can cause meningitis and septicaemia.
The MenACWY vaccine, which protects against meningococcal groups A, C, W and Y, is routinely offered to teenagers through the school immunisation programme. Those who miss it remain eligible until their 25th birthday.