UKHSA: meningitis cases up in 2024-25; vaccinate now
Let’s make this easy. If you’re a parent, student or teacher, your two-step plan this week is simple: check vaccination records and refresh your symptom knowledge. We’ll guide you through both so you can act quickly and help others do the same.
UK Health Security Agency data published on 31 October 2025 reports 378 invasive meningococcal disease cases in 2024–25. MenB accounted for 82.6% (313); MenW 11.3% (43), with smaller numbers for MenY and MenC. After falling during COVID-19, cases have risen again, and MenB was higher than in 2023–24. Uptake has slipped: MenB coverage at 12 months dipped to 91.4%; MenACWY in Year 9 reached 72.1% in 2023/24-up on 2022/23 but below the 88% before the pandemic. The NHS offers MenB to infants at 8 and 12 weeks and at one year, and MenACWY in Year 9 with catch‑up until age 25, which matters for students who mix closely. MenW rose to 43 from 17 the year before, with some cases linked to travel to Saudi Arabia, though far below 2015–16 levels (218).
What this means for families: vaccination is your strongest defence against the main meningococcal strains. If you think a dose was missed, contact your GP practice or the school immunisation team and ask for a catch‑up appointment. Before you phone, find your child’s Red Book or online record and note any gaps so the booking is quick.
What this means for students: universities bring lots of close contact-seminars, societies, shared kitchens. If you never had the teenage meningitis jab, arrange a catch‑up with a GP near campus. Registering with a local practice takes minutes and makes it easier to get advice fast if you or a friend becomes unwell.
A quick teaching point for classes and common rooms: meningitis and septicaemia can escalate within hours. People may look “fluey” at first, then worsen. Build a culture of checking in on friends, especially if someone is suddenly very sleepy, confused, or breathing quickly. Acting early saves lives.
Vaccines don’t cover every meningococcal strain, so learn the warning signs and act fast: fever, cold hands and feet, vomiting, confusion, fast breathing, muscle or joint pain, pale or blotchy skin or a new rash-often harder to spot on brown or black skin-plus headache, stiff neck, light sensitivity, unusual sleepiness or seizures.
If you’re worried about yourself or someone else, do not wait for all symptoms to appear together or for a rash to show. Trust your instincts and seek urgent medical help. Early assessment and treatment can be lifesaving, and it’s always okay to ask for help twice if things get worse.
For schools and colleges: share a short reminder in tutor time, send families a one‑page update on symptoms, and tell students how to access catch‑up jabs through the school immunisation team or their GP. A five‑minute briefing now can prevent confusion later in the term.
For parents and carers: set aside ten minutes tonight. Check the Red Book or your NHS app record, write down any missing doses, and book. Put a note on the fridge with the key symptoms so babysitters and grandparents know what to look for too.
Bottom line for all of us: coverage dipped during and after the pandemic, and cases are rising again. Vaccination plus quick action on symptoms is the plan. One small admin task today-checking and booking-reduces risk in halls, classrooms and family homes this year.