Experts say there has been a “terrifying” drop in uptake of the meningitis jab, with over a million British teenagers missing out. The MenACWY vaccine, which protects against four strains of meningitis, was introduced in 2015 and achieved a 82.5% uptake rate in the first full year of its delivery.

Health professionals are raising alarms over a significant decline in the number of British teenagers receiving the meningitis vaccine, leaving over a million unprotected. The MenACWY vaccine, introduced in 2015 to combat four meningitis strains, initially saw an uptake rate of 82.5% during its first full year of implementation.

The vaccine, as the name suggests, covers four strains, A, C, W and Y, and has been found to massively reduce the prevalence of each one. Although it is administered solely to teens, an Oxford University study conducted in 2022 found that the jab has helped establish herd immunity across all age groups.

The UKHSA’s uptake figures do not include private vaccinations, and agency specialists have said the four strains it covers are now much less prevalent.

The MenACWY vaccine, protecting against strains A, C, W, and Y, significantly decreases the occurrence of these strains. Although primarily administered to teenagers, a 2022 study by Oxford University demonstrated the vaccine’s role in fostering herd immunity across all demographics.

Notably, the UKHSA’s uptake statistics exclude private vaccinations, though experts acknowledge that the prevalence of the targeted strains has notably decreased.

Despite the decline in cases, Shamez Ladhani, a consultant epidemiologist at the UKHSA, emphasizes the ongoing importance of vaccination for young people.

Speaking to The Times, she noted, “Even though the incidence of strains A, C, W, and Y covered by the vaccine is currently very low, it remains crucial for young people to accept the vaccination offer.”

He said: “These studies report the results of throat swabs taken from over 24,000 teenagers in more than 170 secondary schools across the country, showing yet again the fantastic enthusiasm of the UK public for taking part in research.

“The results show us that by immunising teenagers with MenACWY vaccines we not only protect them directly, but also reduce the risk of all others in the community suffering from meningitis and sepsis due to these bacteria. Immunising teenagers rather than infants means we get more benefit out of each dose given.”

The four strains covered by the MenACWY jab do not include meningitis B, the one believed to be behind the Kent outbreak that has killed two people and affected up to 34 people.

But Dr Nelly Ninis, a consultant general paediatrician at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust in London, said the low uptake of the vaccine was “terrifying” nonetheless.

She told The Times: “I’ve seen a lot of people die of meningococcal disease. This is a disease to be feared. Many healthcare professionals will buy the vaccine for their children when they go to university.”