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, nearly 12,000 individuals who received initial vaccinations will now get a second dose starting next week. The outbreak led to two fatalities and 19 confirmed cases, prompting the NHS to expand its response. The vaccine was initially administered to people potentially exposed, such as students and pupils in the region.

Appointments for the second dose will be available at clinics in Canterbury, Faversham, and Ashford. Those eligible can book via an online system, with more details on scheduling expected to be released Monday. The targeted program initially focused on university residents in Kent and attendees of a nightclub linked to the outbreak before broadening to include other at-risk groups.

“The outbreak was unprecedented due to the rapid spread among individuals,” said Health Secretary Wes Streeting. Two victims, a 21-year-old university student and sixth former Juliette Kenny, lost their lives after contracting the disease, with many others requiring hospital treatment.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) activated a national incident declaration to mobilize resources like antibiotics. Preventative antibiotics were distributed to a larger cohort, with long queues observed at the University of Kent over several days.

A national MenB vaccination program was launched in 2015 for infants and young children. At that time, UK advisers deemed a teenage catch-up campaign less cost-effective, opting instead for the MenACWY vaccine, which targets four bacterial strains but excludes MenB. The recent outbreak has prompted a reevaluation of this decision by independent experts on the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).