Pakistani students planning to start university in the UK this autumn may be eligible for a free meningitis B (MenB) vaccine under a new NHS vaccination programme.
The UK’s National Health Service is offering the vaccine to eligible young people ahead of the 2026-27 academic year, including international students starting university for the first time. The programme is designed to provide protection against meningococcal B, a serious infection that can cause meningitis and septicaemia.
Under the current guidance, students born on or after July 21, 2001, who are starting undergraduate university education for the first time in autumn 2026 can qualify for the NHS MenB vaccine. The offer also covers eligible students entering certain further-education colleges for the first time who will live in residential accommodation. International students are specifically included in the eligibility criteria.
The NHS recommends that eligible students receive two doses of the MenB vaccine, with the doses given at least 28 days apart. The first dose can be offered until December 31, 2026, while the second dose can be given until March 31, 2027 under the time-limited programme.
MenB disease is rare but can become life-threatening. It can cause meningitis, an infection of the lining around the brain and spinal cord, as well as septicaemia. The UK health authorities have highlighted the importance of vaccination for eligible young people as they begin university and move into shared accommodation.
Pakistani students travelling to the UK for their first undergraduate university course should check their eligibility and vaccination arrangements before or after arrival, particularly if they have not received their first dose. The UK government has also advised eligible international students to receive their first dose in their home country where possible.
