The new NHS MenB vaccine in Crewe
Crewe Pharmacy is a commissioned pharmacy for the NHS Meningitis B (MenB) vaccination service. From 20 July 2026 we can protect this year's Year 13 pupils and new under-25 students right here on Nantwich Road — free if you are eligible, with a private option for everyone else across Crewe, Nantwich, Sandbach, Alsager and south Cheshire.
- Free on the NHS, if eligible
- 2 doses, 28+ days apart
- Year 13 & new under-25 students
- From 20 July 2026
In short
Crewe Pharmacy on Nantwich Road is commissioned to deliver the NHS Meningitis B (MenB) vaccination service, which opens on 20 July 2026. The free programme covers school Year 13 pupils (born 1 September 2007 to 31 August 2008) and first-year university and college students under 25 (born on or after 21 July 2001), including international students. It is a two-dose course given at least 28 days apart. People outside the eligible groups can arrange the same vaccine privately at the pharmacy, serving Crewe, Nantwich, Sandbach, Alsager and south Cheshire.
Are you in one of the eligible groups?
This is a deliberately narrow, one-off offer aimed at the age band where the risk of meningococcal disease is highest. You qualify for the free NHS course if you fit one of these groups and have not completed a MenB course in the last five years.
Year 13 pupils
If you are in Year 13 this year — born between 1 September 2007 and 31 August 2008 — you qualify, whether you are Crewe-bound for a gap year, an apprenticeship or off to university in the autumn.
New university students under 25
First-year undergraduates who are under 25 (born on or after 21 July 2001) are covered. That includes international students arriving for their first year — bring proof of your place and we will do the rest.
New college students in halls
Starting college for the first time and moving into halls or shared residential accommodation, and under 25? You are eligible too. Living in close quarters is exactly the situation this programme is built for.
Bring proof of your place. New students should bring an offer letter, confirmation email or a screenshot showing their university or college place. The pharmacist confirms your eligibility on the day.
Two doses, a month apart
- 1
Your first dose
We give your first MenB dose at the pharmacy and book you straight in for the second. If you are a new student, this is best done before you move away for term.
- 2
Your second dose
Your second dose follows at least 28 days later. Both doses are needed — a single dose does not give reliable protection.
- 3
Protection builds
Allow roughly two more weeks after the second dose for your immunity to develop, so aim to finish the course before freshers' week.
Built around the highest-risk moment
The new programme responds to recent meningococcal disease activity and a long-standing pattern: young people starting university and living in close quarters — shared halls, packed social calendars, freshers' events — carry a noticeably higher risk of meningococcal disease than peers of the same age who do not go to university.
Meningococcal illness can move from first symptoms to something life-threatening within hours, so the aim is simple: get the at-risk group both MenB doses before the new term begins. Offering it through pharmacies like ours in Crewe makes that far easier to fit in.
Private MenB is still an option
The NHS offer is tightly defined. If you do not fall inside it — perhaps you are a returning student, over 25, or a parent arranging protection for the family — you can still have exactly the same vaccine privately at Crewe Pharmacy. It is the same two-dose course, at least 28 days apart. Get in touch and we will talk you through it.
NHS MenB vaccine FAQs
Is Crewe Pharmacy actually part of the NHS MenB service?
Yes. We are a commissioned pharmacy for the NHS Meningitis B vaccination service, which goes live on 20 July 2026. That means eligible people can have both doses here on Nantwich Road, free of charge, without needing to travel to a GP surgery.
Who can have the free MenB jab?
Three groups are covered for the autumn-2026 programme: school Year 13 pupils (born between 1 September 2007 and 31 August 2008); first-year university undergraduates under 25 (born on or after 21 July 2001), including students coming from overseas; and people starting college for the first time who are moving into halls of residence, again under 25.
How much does it cost?
Nothing, if you are in one of the eligible groups — the two-dose course is free on the NHS. If you fall outside those groups the NHS will not fund it on this programme, but we can still supply exactly the same vaccine as a private appointment.
Why are two doses needed, and how far apart?
One dose does not give reliable protection. The course is two doses spaced at least 28 days apart, and it takes roughly a further two weeks after the second dose for your immunity to build. Because of that, it pays to start the course before you head off for the new term.
When can I book at Crewe Pharmacy?
The NHS service opens on 20 July 2026 and runs to the end of March 2027, with first doses available up to 31 December 2026. We are taking names ahead of launch — register your interest and we will contact you the moment appointments go live.
Is MenB the same as the MenACWY jab I had at school?
No — they are different vaccines. MenACWY protects against meningococcal groups A, C, W and Y and is the one routinely offered to teenagers. MenB protects against group B, which this new student and school-leaver programme specifically targets. Many young people will end up having both.
I had MenB as a baby — do I need it again?
The MenB doses given to infants in the routine childhood schedule are separate from this one-off teenage and student offer. If you are in an eligible group and have not completed a MenB course in the last five years, you can have it now. If you had a recent course, you probably do not need it again yet — ask us and we will help you check.
I am coming to study in Cheshire from abroad — am I covered?
Yes. International students under 25 starting their first year are included, even if you only arrive in the UK in September. Bring something confirming your university or college place, such as an offer letter or a confirmation email.
What should I bring to my appointment?
For the university and college routes, bring evidence that you are starting your course this autumn — an offer letter, a confirmation email or a screenshot is fine. The pharmacist confirms your eligibility against this on the day.
I am not in an eligible group — can I still get MenB?
Yes. MenB is available privately to anyone at Crewe Pharmacy. That suits returning or later-year students, parents arranging protection for the family, or anyone who simply wants the reassurance. Get in touch and we will arrange the two-dose course.
Trusted sources
The eligibility, dates and dosing on this page follow official NHS, UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and Community Pharmacy England guidance. Programme details can change, so always check the latest:
Be ready for the MenB rollout
Register your interest for the free NHS service opening 20 July 2026, or arrange a private course if you are not eligible. We are on Nantwich Road, serving Crewe, Nantwich, Sandbach, Alsager and south Cheshire.
Register your interestImportant: This page is general health information, not personal medical advice or a booking confirmation. NHS eligibility is confirmed by the pharmacist against acceptable evidence when you attend. Eligibility, dates and dosing follow UKHSA and NHS England / Community Pharmacy England guidance and may change. Reviewed by Muhammad Usman Shafique, Superintendent Pharmacist (GPhC 2067844), on 1 June 2026. Crewe Pharmacy is a registered pharmacy delivering NHS and private services in Crewe.