Meningitis B vaccination rolled out in Dorset following three confirmed cases
Meningitis B vaccinations are being offered to young people in Dorset after three cases of the disease have been confirmed in the area.
The UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) has announced it is working with Dorset Council, the NHS and local partners after cases of invasive meningococcal infection have been confirmed amongst young people in Weymouth.
The news follows a meningitis outbreak in Kent last month which caused the death of two young students. Around 11,000 vaccinations were given out in the first week to university students alongside around 13,000 antibiotics.
Two of the students recently diagnosed attend Budmouth Academy and the other attends Wey Valley Academy. Students and parents of both schools have been provided information about the signs and symptoms of the disease.
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The two cases at the same school are contacts of each other, but currently no confirmed epidemiological link has been made between these cases and the third individual who attends Wey Valley Academy.
UKHSA said this may mean that this strain of MenB bacteria is transmitting ‘more widely among young people’ in Weymouth.
As a result, antibiotics and the MenB vaccination will now be offered to young people aged 11 to 18 who study in or live in the Weymouth, Portland and Chickerell areas of Dorset.
The vaccination will be offered in stages starting with Budmouth Academy and Wey Valley schools. Pupils that attend other schools and other eligible children in Weymouth who do not attend school will be invited thereafter.
The cases were confirmed between 20 March and 15 April and those effected have received treatment, while close contacts have been offered precautionary antibiotics, the UKHSA confirmed.
UKHSA’s deputy director Dr Beth Smout said: ‘We are working closely with partners to follow up and offer precautionary antibiotics to close contacts of the cases.
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‘However, meningococcal disease does not spread easily, and outbreaks like we have seen recently in Kent are rare.
‘These cases are not linked to the Kent outbreak and it is important to be aware that this outbreak is not on the same scale as we saw in Kent in terms of speed of transmission or severity.
‘However, it is possible that we will see further cases linked to these latest cases in Weymouth and we understand that there will be concern among students, staff, parents and the local community as we widen our offer of antibiotics and vaccination.
‘I’d like to stress that this is an additional precaution, and that we’re following national guidelines to reduce the risk of the infection spreading.
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‘School pupils and staff should attend school as normal if they remain well.’
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