A temporary meningococcal freshers vaccination programme was introduced in April 2014, following the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), to protect students attending university for the first time. This group is at increased risk of contracting meningococcal disease, as the disease can spread quickly in places were people live close to each other (such as university halls of residence or shared accommodation). 

In February 2015, Public Health England (PHE) presented data to the JCVI on the increase of MenW disease in England and Wales since 2009, with the most recent cases increasing in an accelerated manner. The JCVI agreed this constituted an outbreak situation and that population-level control of MenW was required with urgency to reduce the risk of further rapid increases in disease across the population. The JCVI advised a programme with a new quadrivalent vaccine to vaccinate all adolescents aged 14-18 against the emerging MenW strain of the disease. The quadrivalent vaccine also provides protection against meningococcal groups A, C and Y. Vaccination of this cohort is expected to provide herd protection for the wider population.

The freshers programme applies to those aged 19-24 (19 years on 31 August 2019 up to 24 years by 31 March 2020). Patients are not eligible for vaccination under this programme once they have attained the age of 25 years.