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Some 20,000 meningitis B vaccines from NHS supply will be made available to the private market, to ease current demand experienced by pharmacies, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said.
This follows increased demand for the vaccination privately, pharmacies struggling to purchase stock and reports that the government had “put a hold [on] the supply of all meningitis B vaccines”.
The UKHSA announced on 19 March 2026: “Given current demand on the private MenB vaccine market, 20,000 doses will also be released from NHS supply to support continuity of private provision, enabling up to 2,000 pharmacies to receive vaccines in the next 48 hours.”
Olivier Picard, chair of the National Pharmacy Association, said: “Pharmacies have been inundated with requests for MenB vaccines in recent days so any additional supply is a positive step forward and we’re pleased the UKHSA has listened to concerns from the NPA and others.
“However, it is unlikely this will meet current levels of demand, with pharmacies getting hundreds of thousands of patients seeking vaccination in light of the outbreak in Kent.
“Given this demand, pharmacies need support from health officials to help them identify those most in need on their waiting lists.
“We want to support the NHS and others with any vaccination efforts, subject to JCVI [Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation] recommendations.“
Pharmacies have reported increased requests for meningitis B vaccinations follows a meningitis outbreak in Kent, where two young people have died.
As of 17:00 on 18 March 2026, the UKHSA reported that the outbreak included 15 laboratory confirmed cases — 9 of which are group B meningococcal disease — while 12 notifications remain under investigation.
One case has been confirmed in a student in London, who is linked directly to the Kent outbreak, the UKHSA said.
A targeted NHS vaccination programme began on 19 March 2026, starting with up to 5,000 students that are residents of the Canterbury Campus halls of residence at the University of Kent.
Vaccination will also be offered to everyone who has been offered preventative antibiotic treatment as part of this outbreak and anyone who visited Club Chemistry in Canterbury between 5 and 15 March 2026, the UKHSA said
Preventative antibiotics and vaccination will also be offered to students in years 12 and 13 in schools and colleges in Kent where confirmed or probable cases are identified, which may be extended, the UKHSA added, saying it would share information on vaccination sites for those eligible on the NHS Kent and Medway website.
The government has stressed that patients do not need to buy a vaccine privately, though some may choose to do so.
The Healthcare Distribution Association (HDA), which represents pharmacy wholesalers, told The Pharmaceutical Journal on 18 March 2026 that its members were “working through specific localised demand increases” and did not expect short-term availability issues with private supply “if government guidance continues to be followed”.
But the NPA criticised “mixed messages” on vaccination stock, reporting that as of 18 March 2026, suppliers were telling pharmacies that the government had “put a hold [on] the supply of all meningitis B vaccines until the serotype subgroup is identified”.
Before the additional vaccination stock was announced, a spokesperson for the NPA said: “Pharmacies are receiving mixed messages from the government and manufacturers on the availability of meningitis B vaccination. They need clarity on why stocks are unavailable to pharmacies.”
On 18 March 2026, a spokesperson for the government told The Pharmaceutical Journal: “The UK has a good stockpile of vaccines for use in the NHS to vaccinate against meningitis B.
“This is an unprecedented situation and we are looking to support pharmacies and private providers to improve their supply and make their supply chains more resilient.”
Leyla Hannbeck, chief executive of the Independent Pharmacies Association (IPA), commented: “The IPA welcomes UKSHA’s commitment to support pharmacies to improve their supply of the vaccine for private prescriptions. This is what we have been asking for.
“But, as the number of cases continues to rise — including the London case now confirmed as linked to the Kent outbreak — the IPA reiterates our call for the NHS to urgently launch a nationally coordinated vaccination programme, delivered through community pharmacies, to ensure teenagers and young people across the country can access meningitis B vaccines quickly and easily.
“We are asking JCVI to approve a nationwide pharmacy-led rollout to reach teenagers and young adults at pace, protect vulnerable groups and prevent further spread. The government must act now to deliver this without delay.”
