Targeted meningitis vaccination programme to begin for Kent students

A targeted meningitis B (MenB) vaccination programme is to be launched for some students at the University of Kent in response to an ongoing outbreak, the government has announced.

Meanwhile the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has been asked by the health secretary to ‘reexamine eligibility’ for meningitis vaccines more widely.

The news comes as the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) continues to investigate an outbreak of meningococcal disease in the Canterbury and East Kent area which has seen two people die.

The UKHSA confirmed today that four cases had been identified as the MenB strain, while another 11 cases are under investigation.

Related Article: Pollen 101: how nurses can help patients manage hay fever symptoms

Since 2015, the MenB vaccine has been available on the NHS as part of the routine childhood immunisations schedule – however this means many aged over 10 have not had it, unless they received it privately from a pharmacy.

Today, the government announced that ‘given the severity of the situation’ a ‘small, targeted’ vaccination programme will begin in the coming days.

The UKHSA said this would start with students resident at Canterbury Campus Halls of Residence at the University of Kent and could be expanded further as it assesses any ongoing risk to other populations.

On Sunday, precautionary antibiotics started being offered to students in two university halls of residence where the government was aware of meningitis cases to help ‘limit the spread’.

‘For now, the priority remains for those offered antibiotics to come forward as this is highly effective at preventing the disease and transmission,’ the UKHSA said in an updated statement today.

Investigations have confirmed that some of the cases identified so far had visited Club Chemistry in Canterbury between 5 and 7 March prior to becoming unwell.

The UKHSA said its health protection team was ‘working closely with the nightclub and partners including the University of Kent to limit the spread’ and that students needing antibiotics have been offered them through the university.

Speaking in Parliament this afternoon, health and social care secretary Wes Streeting paid tribute to the two young people who have died and described the outbreak as ‘unprecedented’ and a ‘rapidly developing situation’.

He reiterated that a targeted vaccination programme for some students would begin in the coming days and said he would also be asking the JCVI – which advises the government on vaccinations – to ‘reexamine eligibility’ for meningitis vaccines.

Currently, vaccines are available to prevent some types of meningitis, including against MenB for babies, and the MenACWY vaccine for protection against MenA, MenC, MenW, and MenY offered to teenagers in school Years 9 and 10.

The vaccine for MenB was only introduced for babies at two months, three months and 12 months in 2015.

Related Article: Pharmacies to deliver one-off MenB jab programme for thousands of young people

‘In light of this latest outbreak, I will be asking [the JCVI] to reexamine eligibility for meningitis vaccines,’ said Mr Streeting.

‘I will do so without prejudicing their decision because we have to follow the clinical advice on this.’

Meningococcal disease is an uncommon but serious disease caused by meningococcal bacteria, warned the UKHSA. Young people going to university or college for the first time are particularly at risk of meningitis because they mix with other students, some of whom are unknowingly carrying the bacteria at the back of their nose and throat.