NHS to offer second MenB vaccine after deadly Kent outbreak
NHS to Offer Second MenB Vaccine Following Kent Outbreak
Following a meningitis B outbreak in Kent, the NHS will provide a second dose of the vaccine to nearly 12,000 individuals who received initial shots last month. This measure aims to strengthen immunity, as the infection led to two fatalities and 19 confirmed cases. The second dose is required for full protection and will be available starting next week through clinics in Canterbury, Faversham, and Ashford.
Eligible recipients include students residing in university accommodations, attendees of a nightclub linked to the outbreak, and certain school pupils. NHS Kent and Medway confirmed that appointments will be accessible across multiple locations, with details on booking to be shared from Monday. The targeted program initially focused on university students before expanding to those who frequented Club Chemistry, where the outbreak is believed to have originated.
About the Outbreak
Health Secretary Wes Streeting called the situation “unprecedented,” highlighting the rapid spread of the disease. A 21-year-old university student, whose identity remains undisclosed, and sixth form pupil Juliette Kenny succumbed to the illness. Many others required inpatient care, prompting the UK Health Security Agency to declare a national incident to coordinate resources like antibiotics.
“The outbreak has been unprecedented due to the number of people infected in a short time frame,” said Health Secretary Wes Streeting.
Preventative antibiotics were distributed to a broader group, with long queues forming at the University of Kent over several days. The routine MenB vaccination program was introduced in the UK in 2015 for infants, but advisers initially deemed a catch-up campaign for teenagers cost-ineffective. Teenagers now receive the MenACWY vaccine, which covers four meningitis strains but not MenB. The recent incident has prompted a reevaluation of this decision by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.
