Meningitis vaccinations

What is the uptake of young people getting meningitis vaccinations before they go to university over the last ten years in Jersey?  

How much do these vaccinations cost for the government and the Health Department to provide? 

How much would it cost to make these vaccinations free to students before they go to university? 

Childhood vaccination uptake, including those for meningitis strains, is reported in the annual Immunisations Report. The latest iteration is published on www.gov.je at the following link: 

Immunisations Report 2024​

As this information is available elsewhere, Article 23 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 has been applied. 

Routine scheduled childhood vaccinations are provided free of charge to service users.  

The cost paid per vaccine is considered commercially sensitive, therefore, Article 33 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 has been applied. 

Information is qualified exempt information if – 

(a) it constitutes a trade secret; or 

(b) its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the commercial interests of a person (including the scheduled public authority holding the information). 

Article 33 is a qualified exemption and as such, Health and Care Jersey (HCJ) has conducted a prejudice test as required by law.  

When responding to requests of this nature, HCJ has to balance the public interest with the impact that disclosing this information would, or would be likely to, have upon the organisation and / or third parties. Whilst it may be in the public interest to understand the costs of providing services, protecting the commercial interests of HCJ is an essential component in controlling public finances, which in itself is in the public interest. 

HCJ has assessed whether, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in supplying the information is outweighed by the prejudice that would likely result by doing so. 

It has been concluded that disclosing details which identify the costs of procuring specified vaccines is likely to prejudice the commercial interests of HCJ and / or the supplier. When considering the application of this exemption, HCJ has determined that whilst it is in the public interest to disclose information, this is outweighed by the necessity to limit any impact on the commercial interests of HCJ and third parties in future supply negotiations, and as such, Article 33 has been applied. ​​