Recent tragic news from Kent universities, involving two teenage deaths linked to Meningitis B, has brought renewed attention to the importance of vaccination against preventable diseases.
Students affected would have received meningitis vaccines through the NHS schedule, typically covering Meningitis C and ACWY strains.
In response to the outbreak:
The Meningitis B vaccine was only introduced into the NHS routine schedule for babies in 2015.
This means:
Many parents will remember being told about a rash that does not fade when pressed with a glass. This is a key warning sign.
However, early symptoms can appear mild and include:
These can quickly progress to more serious illness, including the characteristic rash.
Meningitis can develop rapidly, and urgent hospital treatment is required, often within 24 hours of symptom onset.
Meningococcal disease is serious:
There is a clear pattern in who is most affected:
Teenagers are particularly vulnerable due to:
The bacteria can also be carried in the throat without symptoms in around 10% of people.
Cases of meningococcal disease are more common during the winter months and typically decline by late summer.
Many young people will have received:
However, Meningitis B vaccination was not offered to these older groups.
At Private GP Services, we have offered the Bexsero Meningitis B vaccine for many years due to the seriousness of this infection.
Currently, vaccine supplies have been prioritised for the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to support the Kent vaccination programme.
The Meningitis B vaccine is given as a two-dose course, with the second dose administered one month after the first.
We are currently operating a waiting list. As soon as stock becomes available, patients will be contacted to arrange vaccination.
To join the waiting list:
We will be in touch as soon as appointments become available.
