NHS to offer second MenB vaccine after deadly Kent outbreak

Following a meningitis B outbreak in Kent last month, over 12,000 individuals who received the vaccine will now get a second dose starting next week. The outbreak resulted in two fatalities and 19 confirmed cases. The initial vaccination drive targeted people potentially exposed, such as university students and school pupils in the region.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting called the outbreak “unprecedented,” highlighting the rapid spread of the disease. A 21-year-old student and a sixth form pupil, Juliette Kenny, both succumbed to the illness. Many others required hospital treatment. To address the crisis, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) activated a national incident declaration, facilitating the allocation of resources like antibiotics.

The second dose must be administered at least four weeks after the first but can be delayed if necessary. Clinics in Canterbury, Faversham, and Ashford will provide the jabs, with online booking systems enabling appointments. Eligible groups include those who lived in Kent university halls or attended the nightclub linked to the outbreak. NHS Kent and Medway confirmed multiple clinics will be available, with booking details set to be released Monday.

Initially, the targeted vaccination program focused on students in university accommodations, later expanding to attendees of Club Chemistry, where the outbreak began. Additional groups, such as sixth form students at schools with confirmed cases, were also included. Preventative antibiotics were distributed to a broader population, with long lines forming at the University of Kent over several days.

A routine MenB vaccination program was launched in the UK in 2015 for infants and young children. At that time, UK health advisers determined that a widespread catch-up campaign for teenagers was not cost-effective. Teenagers instead received the MenACWY vaccine, which guards against four meningitis strains but excludes MenB. The recent outbreak prompted Streeting to seek a reassessment of this decision from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

“The outbreak has been unprecedented due to the number of infections in a short time frame,” said Health Secretary Wes Streeting.

With the new initiative, the NHS aims to bolster protection against meningococcal group B bacteria, which the vaccine is designed to combat. The expansion underscores the urgency of addressing gaps in coverage for vulnerable populations.