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 the initial shots. The outbreak claimed two lives and left 19 others diagnosed with the disease. The vaccination drive targeted those exposed, such as university students and schoolchildren in the region. A second dose is essential for full protection.

Expanded Vaccination Access

Vaccination centers are opening in Canterbury, Faversham, and Ashford, with online booking systems enabling appointments. Eligible groups include students residing in Kent’s university accommodations and attendees of a nightclub linked to the outbreak. NHS Kent and Medway announced that multiple clinics and hubs will host the second dose, with detailed booking instructions to be released starting Monday.

Preventative antibiotics were distributed to a larger group, leading to long lines at the University of Kent over several days. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) initiated a national incident declaration to facilitate resource allocation, including antibiotic supplies. Initially, the vaccination program focused on university students before expanding to those who visited Club Chemistry, where the outbreak is believed to have started.

Additional groups, such as sixth form students at schools or colleges with confirmed cases, were later included. The outbreak has prompted Health Secretary Wes Streeting to revisit the 2015 decision to exclude teenagers from routine MenB vaccination programs. At the time, UK advisers deemed a widespread catch-up campaign for adolescents not cost-effective, opting instead for the MenACWY vaccine, which covers four bacterial strains but not MenB.

“This outbreak was unprecedented due to the rapid spread among a large number of people,” stated Health Secretary Wes Streeting.

As a result of the recent incident, Streeting commissioned the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) to reassess the eligibility of teenagers for MenB immunization. The revised approach aims to address gaps in protection while ensuring equitable access across the region. The MenB vaccine is effective against most meningococcal group B strains in the UK, with the second dose required at least four weeks after the first but potentially delayed if necessary.