Meningococcal B (Men B) vaccination for babies
As babies and young children are most commonly affected by meningococcal B, you should make sure that your baby receives the Meningococcal B (Men B) vaccination.
Men B vaccination
Babies can get the Men B vaccine alongside other vaccinations when they are aged:
- two months
- four months
- 12 months
The vaccine is given as a single injection into your baby’s thigh and may cause some side effects such as:
- redness, swelling or tenderness where they had the injection (this will slowly disappear within a few days)
- being a bit irritable and feeding poorly
- having a temperature (fever)
It is quite common for babies who receive the Men B vaccine at two and four months of age to have a fever after the vaccination.
You can help reduce this by giving them infant paracetamol which will also help against other side effects.
Men B disease
The Men B vaccine will protect your baby against infection by meningococcal group B bacteria, which can cause:
- meningitis (infection and inflammation of the lining of the brain)
- septicaemia (blood poisoning)
Meningitis and septicaemia are serious and potentially fatal illnesses.
They are caused by meningococcal group B bacteria which can affect people of any age, but is most common in babies and young children.
With early diagnosis and antibiotic treatment, most people with meningococcal disease make a full recovery.
It is fatal in about one in ten cases and can lead to long-term health problems such as:
- amputation
- deafness
- epilepsy
- difficulty with learning
Why your baby should get the Men B vaccine
There are lots of different strains of Men B infection. The vaccine protects against most (about three quarters) but not all the strains.
The vaccine reduces your baby’s chance of getting the infection. But there is still a small chance they could get it, so it is important to know the signs and symptoms of meningitis.
Information about Men B vaccination
You can ask your GP or practice nurse for more information about the vaccine.