Meningitis B, known as MenB, is the strain of bacteria behind the outbreak of meningitis cases in young people in Kent, experts have confirmed.
According to the BBC, there have been two deaths in Canterbury and more students are in hospital. The UK's current generation of older teenagers and university students have not been offered the MenB vaccine, as it was not available when they were born.
The UK decided against running a widespread catch-up campaign to vaccinate teenagers, but some parents have been buying the jab privately. The Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, has asked advisors to re-examine eligibility for meningitis vaccines.
Response From Authorities
A small targeted vaccination programme will begin starting with students resident at Canterbury Campus Halls of Residence at the University of Kent in the coming days. The vaccination programme may be expanded further as the UK Health Security Agency continues to assess any ongoing risk to other populations.
For now, the priority remains for those offered antibiotics to come forward, as this is highly effective at preventing the disease and transmission. The Health Secretary has stated that the public health risk for the wider population remains low, but contact tracing and antibiotic prophylaxis are being offered to those in close contact with cases.
Investigation and Expert Advice
Professor Sir Andrew Pollard, an immunologist at Oxford University, has explained that the MenB vaccine does not work as well in young people as it does in infants. The vaccine has been developed to offer protection against as many strains as possible, but it does not work against all.
Experts say that the case for whether to vaccinate teenagers against MenB is complicated. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has determined that the MenB vaccine was not cost-effective for teens due to its limited effectiveness and the fact that it does not protect for a particularly long time.
Vaccination and Prevention
Generally, it takes a couple of weeks to get the fullest protection from a vaccine, and some require booster doses. A small group of teens and adults are recommended to have the MenB jab on the NHS, including those with certain long-term health conditions who are at greater risk.
Some parents have paid private doctors to get the vaccine for teenagers, but it is not cheap, with high street pharmacies offering a full course of two doses for around £220. The charity Meningitis Now says MenB jabs should be available at a fair price.
