Tens of thousands of young people have quickly responded to NHS England’s biggest-ever MenB vaccination campaign, launched in response to recent meningitis outbreaks across England, with still more expected as university students prepare for term.
Tens of thousands of teenagers and young adults have already taken up the NHS’s largest ever catch-up MenB vaccination drive, launched in response to this year’s meningitis outbreaks in England. In little less than two weeks, 89,261 first doses had been administered and more than 135,000 people had already secured appointments in the weeks ahead, NHS England said.
The campaign is aimed at those most exposed to the risk, including young people born between 1 September 2007 and 31 August 2008, plus first-time university students and some first-time residential further education students born on or after 21 July 2001. NHS England expects around a million people to be eligible, with 17- and 18-year-olds able to book through the national booking system and others invited to contact participating pharmacies directly.
The urgency of the programme reflects a difficult spring and summer for public health officials. According to reports in The Guardian, health authorities in Kent moved from concern to relative confidence in March that a major outbreak there, which had caused 20 confirmed cases, was under control, although cases linked to the cluster later rose to 27. The same reporting said the Kent outbreak caused two deaths and prompted warnings for anyone who had been at Club Chemistry in Canterbury between 5 and 15 March to seek antibiotics and vaccination.
Further clusters added to the pressure on the NHS. The Guardian reported in April that three meningitis B cases were confirmed in Dorset, leading to vaccinations being offered to young people there and precautionary antibiotics for close contacts, while another report in March said unusual clusters had also been seen in the Reading area. Together, the outbreaks left three teenagers dead, including two in Kent and one in Oxfordshire.
For many of those now coming forward, the timing matters because university term is approaching. NHS England said first-year students are seven times more likely to contract meningitis B than their non-university peers, and campaign leads have stressed the importance of completing both doses. Dr Shamez Ladhani of the UK Health Security Agency said the early response was encouraging, but warned that the second injection was essential, adding that any brief discomfort was worth the protection against meningitis and septicaemia. Community Pharmacy England also said demand had been high as pharmacies worked to absorb the surge in bookings.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
