MenB vac update: reminders and FAQs
Following the launch of the Meningococcal B (MenB) Vaccination Service this week, Community Pharmacy England has been working with NHS England to monitor its early progress and address teething issues.
NHS England has already taken action to support pharmacies in response to the concerns we raised around the initial ordering and allocation process. NHS England is continuing to review these processes daily.
Pharmacy owners will need to manage their vaccination capacity and appointment availability in line with their vaccine orders and scheduled delivery days, ensuring that published appointments on Manage Your Appointments (MYA) reflect when the pharmacy will have vaccine in stock.
To maximise service provision and best manage their stock, pharmacy owners are advised to continue to:
- Review their allocation showing on the Federated Data platform (FDP) Supply Dashboard. The pharmacy must have an allocation before an order can be placed.
- Place an order on FDP before your order cut-off deadline having reviewed if you have bookings on MYA.
- Confirm their assigned delivery day and check for the expected delivery time which will be available one working day before your assigned delivery day*.
- Ensure that their MYA booked appointments are scheduled for dates after their confirmed vaccine delivery. Review your available appointments against your expected delivery date and plan your bookings around your fixed delivery day and vaccine supply.
*Note, a trained individual must be available on site to receive the vaccine on the day of delivery (between 8am and 5pm), not just during the expected time of arrival window in case the delivery is subject to delays.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Community Pharmacy England has been compiling answers to queries about providing the new service. The following are some of the most commonly asked.
- Who is eligible for theMenB Vaccination Service?
The service is available to:
- All young people born between 1st September 2007 and 31st August 2008 (current Year 13 age group) (whether they plan to go to university, further education or have other plans after leaving school).
- Young people born on or after 21st July 2001 and starting university or certain residential further education settings for the first time in autumn 2026.
Community Pharmacy England and NHS England have developed the following guide to assist with identifying those who are eligible: Patient eligibility flowchart
- Can all the eligible patient cohorts book an appointment for vaccination via the National Booking Service (NBS)?
No. At this time, only individuals in the age range associated with the current school Year 13 (individuals born on or after 1st September 2007 and on or before 31st August 2008), can book an appointment on NBS. The remaining patient cohorts will need to book appointments locally with a pharmacy or be provided a vaccination as a walk-in patient. - Is there any additional evidence of eligibility that needs to be checked for current Year 13 pupils?
No. Young people in the current school Year 13 are eligible for MenB vaccines based on their date of birth (born between 1st September 2007 and 31st August 2008). They are eligible regardless of any future further education plans. - Are individuals who have booked a vaccine appointment via NBS able to book their second appointment while they are in the pharmacy once they have had their first dose?
No. Individuals will be able to book their second appointment on NBS only from the morning after their first appointment. Pharmacy owners should continue to remind individuals at the point of vaccination that they will need a second dose but that they will have to wait until the next day to book this on NBS. - Is there a minimum number of appointments I must offer on NBS as part of the service?
Yes, the current specification requires that where pharmacy owners are providing MenB vaccinations, they must offer at least 100*listed appointments per month from the service commencement date and that appointments are available at various times throughout the pharmacy’s full opening hours, including late afternoons and Saturdays (where the pharmacy owner is open on Saturdays).
* The minimum of 100 appointments stated above is per month. In July, pharmacies are not expected to offer 100 appointments during the available operational days.
Full information, guidance and resources can be found on our MenB Vaccination Service webpage.
