All articles tagged with #menb
A one-off two-dose meningitis B vaccination program will be offered to about one million young people across England, Wales and Scotland, focusing on Year 13/S6 pupils and 18–25s entering university or residential further education, with doses delivered through pharmacies and NHS channels this summer and autumn, to reduce risk amid recent MenB outbreaks in Kent, Weymouth and Reading.
An explosive outbreak of invasive meningococcal disease linked to Canterbury’s Club Chemistry has reached 20 cases and two deaths as of 17 March, with the MenB strain confirmed. Health officials have launched antibiotics distribution and a targeted MenB vaccination program for University of Kent students living in halls, and JCVI may be asked to re-examine Teen MenB vaccination eligibility. UKHSA notes MenB accounts for about 80% of recent UK cases, and experts say the Canterbury outbreak’s pace and scale are unprecedented.
A meningitis outbreak in Kent (with cases also in London) has been upgraded to a national health incident after cases rose from 15 to about 20, many linked to Canterbury’s Club Chemistry. Officials warn of rapid, potentially super-spreader transmission, including the deaths of an 18-year-old sixth-form pupil and a 21-year-old University of Kent student, and a nine‑month‑old baby is critically ill. Authorities have distributed antibiotics to some 700 students and will offer MenB vaccination to about 5,000 Kent students while investigating the outbreak’s origin and whether a mutant MenB strain is involved. No school closures have been announced as containment efforts continue.
Five new meningitis B cases in Kent have prompted a targeted vaccination drive for students after two deaths, with teens still not routinely offered MenB in the UK since the vaccine is primarily given to babies; JCVI previously found MenB vaccination for teens not cost-effective, though the Health Secretary has asked them to re-examine eligibility. In outbreaks, antibiotics for close contacts are prioritized, vaccines don’t provide immediate protection, and debates continue about whether teenagers should be offered MenB, alongside private vaccination options at a cost.
The death of 18-year-old Meg Draper from meningitis B has sparked calls for the NHS to offer the MenB vaccine to young adults, as it is currently only available to young children, despite the bacteria's risk to teenagers and young adults. Her parents, unaware of the vaccine's availability for their age group, advocate for increased awareness and access to prevent similar tragedies.