Meningococcal group B (MenB) vaccination in babies and young children - About the MenB vaccine for babies and young children

As part of the routine immunisation programme in Wales, the MenB vaccine is offered to babies at:  

• eight weeks  
• 12 weeks (see below), and  
• 12 months.  

Children are sent appointments for their MenB vaccination. Most surgeries and health centres run special vaccination or baby clinics. 

Babies need all three doses of the MenB vaccine to be fully protected.  

For information about routine immunisation schedules for Wales, see: 

Routine immunisation schedules for Wales 

If your child is under two years old and has missed their MenB vaccination, they can still get the MenB vaccine. It is important for your child to have the MenB vaccine to help protect them from serious illness. 

The MenB vaccine is not routinely offered to children over the age of two years through the NHS.  

This follows advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisations (JCVI). The JCVI are a group of experts who review evidence about vaccines. They advise the UK government on which vaccines should be given and when. 

In Wales, there is a routine vaccination schedule that follows this advice. You can see the schedule at: 

Routine immunisation schedule for Wales 

However, some people over two years old, who are identified as being at increased risk may be offered the vaccine free on the NHS. For more information speak to your child’s specialist team, or GP surgery. 

If your child is over two years of age, the MenB vaccine may be available privately. This could be at some private GP surgeries, pharmacies, or travel vaccination clinics.  

 Call to action: 

 It is important to make sure your baby is up to date with all their routine vaccinations, as a serious complication of some diseases can be meningitis. 

 For more information about recommended childhood vaccinations go to: 

Routine immunisation schedules for Wales.

 As children get older, it is still important that they are vaccinated at the right time. Teenagers should make sure they are offered the MenACWY vaccine. This vaccine does not protect against MenB. However, it does protect against other serious types of meningococcal disease and helps keep young people safe. 

For information about the MenACWY vaccine, please visit MenACWY vaccine – Public Health Wales.

Speak to your GP or practice nurse for advice:  

• if your child is under two years of age and has missed any doses, or  
• your child is in an at-risk group. 

Some medical conditions increase the risk of severe infections. People who already have these conditions may need the MenB vaccine. The conditions include:  

• not having a spleen or having a spleen that doesn’t work very well (including due to sickle cell and coeliac disease), and  
• problems with the immune system (complement disorders).  

The vaccine should not be given to babies who have had a serious (life-threatening) reaction to:  

• a previous dose of the vaccine, or   
• any ingredient in the vaccine.  

If your baby has had a serious allergic reaction to the vaccine or its ingredients in the past, speak to the person giving the vaccine.  

If you have any questions about the MenB vaccine, or you are not sure about when your baby or child should have it, you can contact your GP surgery for advice.  

Like all medicines, vaccines can cause side effects. Most of these are mild and short term, and not everyone gets them.  

The most common side effect of the vaccine is fever (a high temperature – above 38˚C). You should give your baby the correct dose of liquid paracetamol to help reduce the risk of fever.  

Other common side effects include:  

• some redness and soreness where the vaccine was given  
• feeling irritable  
• a rash  
• unusual crying  
• sleepiness  
• loss of appetite or feeling sick  
• diarrhoea, and  
• a headache. 

It is recommended that babies are given infant liquid paracetamol to prevent fever after vaccination. The nurse will give you more information about paracetamol at your vaccination appointment.  

It is a good idea to have some infant liquid paracetamol at home before the two-month vaccination visit. You can buy it from local pharmacies or supermarkets. Never give babies the higher-strength paracetamol liquid used for older children. Never give medicines that contain aspirin to a baby.  

See the frequently asked questions below for more information about infant liquid paracetamol.  

Other reactions are rare. For more information on common and rare side effects, see:                     

• Bexsero

If you are concerned about symptoms, contact NHS 111 Wales by calling 111. Calls to NHS 111 Wales are free from landlines and mobile phones.  

You should report suspected side effects of vaccines and medicines through the Yellow Card scheme. You can do this online at Yellow Card or by calling the Yellow Card scheme hotline on 0800 731 6789 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).    

Studies show it is safe to give the MenB vaccine at the same time as other routine vaccines. This means your baby can be protected from serious infections straight away.

Your baby may get a fever after any vaccination, but it is more common when the MenB vaccine is given with the other routine infant vaccinations. Giving your baby paracetamol soon after their vaccination and not waiting for a fever to develop will reduce the risk of them having a fever.

For babies aged eight weeks to six months, give half a teaspoon (2.5ml) using the spoon or syringe provided with the medicine.

This information applies after your baby has had the MenB vaccine. If your baby has a fever at any other time, you should follow the instructions and dose advice on the product packaging and patient information leaflet.

Make sure you have a supply of infant-strength paracetamol at home before your baby’s first vaccination appointment. You can buy it from a pharmacy or supermarket.

Do not give the first dose before your vaccine visit. The nurse needs to check for signs of existing infection, which could mean the vaccination needs to be delayed.

• Some babies might still get a fever after their vaccination, even if they have had three doses of paracetamol.
• In the 48 hours after the vaccination, if your baby still has a fever but is otherwise well, you can continue to give them the same 2.5 ml dose (60mg) of infant-strength (120mg/5ml) liquid paracetamol.
• Always wait at least four hours between doses and never give more than four doses in 24 hours.
• Keep your baby cool by making sure they don’t have too many layers of clothes or blankets and give them lots of fluids. If your baby is breastfed, the best fluid to give is breast milk.

If 48 hours after their vaccination your baby still has a fever, or if you are concerned about your baby’s health at any time:

• trust your instincts and speak to your GP, or
• contact NHS 111 Wales by calling 111.

Your child will need paracetamol with MenB vaccinations given under 12 months of age.

However, paracetamol is not routinely needed after the MenB vaccine given at 12 months. This is because by this age, the risk of fever is less.

Never give medicines containing aspirin to children under 16 years. 

Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to prevent severe illness caused by MenB bacteria. No vaccine is 100% effective, so it is still important to know the signs and symptoms of meningitis and sepsis, even if your child is vaccinated.  

More information is available at:

• Meningitis signs and symptoms | Meningitis Now
• Meningitis Symptoms in Babies | Meningitis Research Foundation
• Meningococcal disease | Vaccine Knowledge Project

See the routine immunisation schedules for Wales.