Meningitis B outbreak in Kent

There is currently an ongoing outbreak of invasive meningococcal disease – a form of meningitis – in Kent. Meningitis is a serious condition where the protective layers (meninges) around the brain and spinal cord become inflamed.

It has many causes, such as different germs, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. In the UK, most cases are due to bacteria or viruses. Some of the bacteria that cause meningitis can also lead to septicaemia (blood poisoning), and both conditions can result in sepsis, which is life-threatening.

Although anyone can get meningitis, it’s most common in babies, young children, teenagers, and young adults. 

Several vaccines offered free of charge by the NHS can help protect against certain causes of meningitis and septicaemia:

• MenB vaccine: For babies given at 8 weeks, 12 weeks, and 1 year
• 6-in-1 vaccine: For babies given at 8, 12 and 16 weeks
• Pneumococcal vaccine: Two doses for babies given at 16 weeks and 1 year; single dose for adults aged 65+
• Hib/MenC vaccine: For babies given at 1 year (if born on or before 30 June 2024)
• MMR/MMRV vaccine: For babies given at 1 year, with a second dose at 18 months
• MenACWY vaccine: For teenagers aged 13 to 14

The Men B vaccine does not protect against all MenB bacterium types.

If you are unsure about you or your child’s vaccination status, you can check this on the NHS App or in your child’s Red Book.

The MenB vaccine was added to the NHS immunisation schedule for infants in 2015, providing protection for babies and young children in the UK. It is separate from the MenACWY vaccine. If you are a teenager or young adult born before 1 May 2015, you will not have received the MenB vaccine as part of the NHS schedule.

• Young children who have missed one or more dose of the MenB vaccine can have this free of charge before their second birthday. There is no NHS catch up programme for the MenB vaccine for children born before 1 May 2015.
• Teenagers can arrange to have vaccines they have missed. This is especially important before starting university or college. If that’s not possible, they should make arrangements with their new GP as soon as they can after term begins. All GP practices should be able to offer free missed MenACWY to people who are under 25 years.
• International students in the same age group are also eligible for these routine vaccines.
• At present there are no plans to offer the MenB vaccine to the wider public on the NHS.