What is the recommended timing for the next dose of the Men B vaccine for a baby in the UK who has already received the first dose according to the NHS schedule?

Men B Vaccine Timing for UK Infants

For a UK infant who has received the first Men B dose at 8 weeks according to the NHS schedule, the next dose should be administered at 16 weeks of age, followed by a booster at 12 months. 1

UK NHS Schedule for Men B (Bexsero/4CMenB)

The UK uses a reduced 2+1 schedule that differs from other countries:

• Primary series: Two doses at 8 weeks and 16 weeks of age (minimum 8-week interval between doses) 1, 2
• Booster dose: One dose at 12 months of age 1, 2

This schedule has been highly effective in England since 2015, with vaccine uptake remaining consistently high (92.5% completing primary immunizations by first birthday, 87.9% receiving all three doses by 2 years) 2

Evidence Supporting the UK Schedule

The UK's reduced schedule has demonstrated strong real-world effectiveness:

• 75% reduction in meningococcal group B disease incidence in vaccine-eligible cohorts over the first 3 years of the program 2
• Vaccine effectiveness of 59.1% (95% CI: -31.1 to 87.2) with the two-dose priming schedule plus 12-month booster 2
• An estimated 277 cases prevented (95% CI: 236-323) over the 3-year evaluation period 2
• Protection sustained for at least 2 years after completing the three-dose series 2

Important Timing Considerations

Do not deviate from the 8-week interval between the first two doses unless the infant is at high risk for meningococcal disease, in which case the minimum interval can be reduced to 4 weeks between any two doses 3

For infants who miss the scheduled 16-week dose:

• If the infant is now 6-11 months old, complete the primary series with a second dose at least 8 weeks after the first, then give the booster in the second year of life (at least 8 weeks after the second dose) 1
• If the infant is now 12-23 months old, give the second dose immediately (at least 8 weeks after the first), with no additional booster required unless the child remains at high risk 1

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Do not use the US 3-dose schedule (0,1-2, and 6 months) for routine UK infants, as this is designed for high-risk populations 3, 4
• Do not mix vaccine products - the same Men B vaccine (Bexsero/4CMenB) must be used for all doses, as the two licensed Men B vaccines are not interchangeable 3
• Expect higher reactogenicity - injection site pain occurs in ≥85% of recipients, with fatigue (≥40%), headache (≥35%), and myalgia (≥30%) also common 1
• Administer at a different anatomic site if giving concomitantly with other routine childhood vaccines 3, 1