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 provide a second dose of the vaccine to nearly 12,000 individuals who received the first shot. The outbreak resulted in two fatalities and 19 confirmed cases, prompting a targeted immunization campaign. The second dose will be available starting next week, with vaccination centers operating in Canterbury, Faversham, and Ashford.

Those eligible include students residing in university accommodations and attendees of a nightclub linked to the incident. NHS Kent and Medway announced that multiple clinics and hubs will offer the second dose, with detailed booking instructions to be released on Monday. The vaccine targets most strains of meningococcal group B bacteria in the UK, requiring a minimum four-week interval between doses.

“This outbreak is unprecedented due to the rapid spread of the disease,” stated Health Secretary Wes Streeting. “It has forced us to reassess our vaccination strategies.”

Initially, the program focused on students in Kent’s university halls, then expanded to patrons of the local nightclub Club Chemistry, where the outbreak began. Additional groups, such as sixth form students at schools with suspected cases, were later included. Preventative antibiotics were distributed to a broader group, leading to long lines at the University of Kent over several days.

Previously, the UK introduced a routine MenB vaccination program in 2015 for babies and young children. At that time, health advisers deemed a nationwide catch-up campaign for teenagers cost-ineffective, opting instead for the MenACWY vaccine, which covers four bacterial types but not MenB. The recent incident has prompted a review of this decision by independent experts on the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

A 21-year-old university student, whose identity remains undisclosed, and sixth form pupil Juliette Kenny succumbed to the infection. Many others required inpatient care, underscoring the urgency of the second dose rollout. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) declared a national incident to streamline resource distribution, including antibiotic supplies.