NHS to offer second MenB vaccine after deadly Kent outbreak

NHS to offer second MenB vaccine after deadly Kent outbreak

Following a meningitis B outbreak in Kent, the NHS will begin administering a second dose of the vaccine to nearly 12,000 individuals who received the first round. The incident has claimed two lives and affected 19 others. Those at risk included residents of university accommodations and attendees of local schools, as well as patrons of a nightclub linked to the spread of the disease.

Clinics are now set to operate in Canterbury, Faversham, and Ashford, with online systems enabling appointments. The second dose must be administered at least four weeks after the initial one, though it can be given later. NHS Kent and Medway has confirmed that multiple vaccination sites will be available, with further details on booking expected to be released starting Monday.

Preventative antibiotics were distributed to a broader group, drawing long lines at the University of Kent. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) initiated a national incident declaration to coordinate resource allocation, including antibiotic supplies. Initially, the targeted program focused on university students, later expanding to include attendees of Club Chemistry, where the outbreak is believed to have started.

Additional groups, such as sixth form students at schools with confirmed or suspected cases, were also included. The MenB vaccine, introduced nationally in 2015 for infants and young children, had previously excluded teenagers due to cost-effectiveness concerns. Teenagers instead received the MenACWY vaccine, which targets four bacterial strains but not MenB. The recent outbreak prompted Health Secretary Wes Streeting to request a reassessment of this decision from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

“The outbreak is unprecedented due to the rapid spread of the infection,” said Health Secretary Wes Streeting.

Among the casualties was a 21-year-old university student, whose identity was not disclosed, and sixth form pupil Juliette Kenny. Many others required hospitalization, underscoring the urgency of the second dose rollout. This marks a significant shift in the NHS’s approach to meningitis prevention, as the focus now includes a broader demographic previously overlooked in routine immunization schedules.