MenACWY vs MenB: Why Your School Jab Doesn’t Cover Meningitis B
Had your meningitis jab at school? That’s MenACWY — it doesn’t protect against meningitis B. Here’s the difference between the two vaccines, and how to make sure you’re covered for both.
“I had my meningitis jab at school, so I’m covered.” It’s one of the most common things we hear, and it’s an easy assumption to make — but it isn’t quite right. The jab almost every teenager gets at school is MenACWY, and it does not protect against meningitis B, which is a different vaccine for a different group of the bacteria. That gap matters, because meningitis B is the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in the UK.
This guide clears up the confusion: what each vaccine covers, why having one doesn’t protect you against the other, and the simple checks to make sure you’re actually covered for both before university.
MenACWY (the school jab) covers groups A, C, W and Y · MenB is a separate vaccine for group B · Neither protects against the other · There’s a new 2026 NHS MenB offer for eligible students · Private MenB at Miles is £120 a dose if you’re not covered
Two different jabs, for two different bugs
Meningococcal disease is caused by a bacterium called Neisseria meningitidis, which comes in several different groups. The two vaccines teenagers and students hear about each target different ones:
- MenACWY protects against four groups — A, C, W and Y.
- MenB protects against group B.
They are made differently and given separately, and crucially, neither one covers the other’s groups. Having the MenACWY jab does nothing to protect you against meningitis B, and vice versa. To be covered against the main causes of meningococcal meningitis in the UK, you need both.
The MenACWY jab: what the school vaccination covers
MenACWY is the meningitis vaccine given routinely in schools, usually in Year 9 or 10 (around age 13 to 15). It’s a single dose, and there’s a free NHS catch-up for anyone who missed it, available through a GP up to their 25th birthday — particularly aimed at new university students.
It was introduced into the schools programme in 2015, replacing the older MenC-only jab, after a sharp rise in cases of a particularly aggressive group W strain. So most teenagers today have had it — which is exactly why so many assume they’re fully protected. They’re protected against four groups; just not B.
The MenB vaccine: the gap your school jab leaves
Meningitis B is the single most common cause of bacterial meningitis in the UK, and it is not included in the MenACWY jab. Babies have been offered MenB on the routine schedule since 2015, but for years there was no NHS MenB offer for teenagers and students — leaving a gap precisely in the age group where cases rise again.
That gap is what the new one-off 2026 NHS MenB programme is designed to close: a free MenB course for Year 13 leavers and first-time under-25 university and college students this autumn. If you’re not in that eligible group, MenB is available privately.
Having had the MenACWY jab at school does not protect you against meningitis B. The NHS says the same thing plainly: even if you’re up to date with MenACWY, you still need the MenB vaccine to be protected against group B.
MenACWY vs MenB at a glance
So what should you actually do?
Two quick checks will tell you whether you’re properly covered before term:
- MenACWY (A, C, W, Y): if you had it at school, you’re covered. If you missed it and you’re under 25, it’s free from your GP — worth sorting if you’re heading to university.
- MenB (group B): if you’re an eligible student, take up the free 2026 NHS offer when you’re contacted. If you’re not eligible — a returning or postgraduate student, over 25, or simply want it sooner — you can have it privately.
For the full picture on meningitis B itself — the disease, the vaccines and private pricing — see our complete meningitis B guide for Epsom, and if you’re a student specifically, our student guide walks through what to sort before freshers.
Getting your MenB protection in Epsom
At Miles Pharmacy in West Ewell we provide private meningitis B vaccination for students, teenagers and adults across Epsom, Ewell and Surrey — £120 a dose, two doses for the full course, with Bexsero or Trumenba and no GP wait. It’s the simple way to close the gap your school jab leaves, on your own timeline. You can check availability and book online, or call us on 020 8393 1000 if you’d like to talk it through first.
Frequently asked questions
Does the MenACWY vaccine cover meningitis B?
No. MenACWY protects against meningococcal groups A, C, W and Y only. Meningitis B is a different group and needs the separate MenB vaccine.
I had my meningitis jab at school — am I protected against meningitis B?
Almost certainly not. The school jab is MenACWY, which doesn’t include group B. You would need the MenB vaccine as well to be protected against it.
What’s the difference between MenACWY and MenB?
They protect against different groups of the same bacterium. MenACWY covers A, C, W and Y and is the routine teenage jab; MenB covers group B, the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in the UK, and is given separately.
Do I really need both?
To be covered against the main causes of meningococcal meningitis in the UK, yes. They protect against different groups, so one doesn’t substitute for the other.
If I’ve had MenACWY, do I still need the MenB vaccine?
Yes — the NHS advises that even if you’re up to date with MenACWY, you should still get MenB, because MenACWY offers no protection against group B.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. Vaccine programme details are based on NHS and UK Health Security Agency guidance current as of June 2026 and may be updated. Always discuss your own circumstances with a healthcare professional.
