Kent has seen a massive vaccination drive to combat a deadly meningitis outbreak, with over 4,500 young people vaccinated so far, according to the BBC.
The UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed that the number of cases has risen to 29, with two deaths reported. The outbreak is believed to have originated at the Club Chemistry nightclub in Canterbury.
Health officials have cautioned that it is too early to determine if the outbreak has reached its peak. The UKHSA has issued a public health alert for doctors in England to watch out for meningitis symptoms.
Police Response and Timeline
The police response has been focused on supporting the vaccination efforts and providing guidance to the public. The timeline of events began on 5 March, when the first cases were reported.
Since then, four schools in the Canterbury area have reported confirmed or suspected cases, including Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School in Faversham, Norton Knatchbull School in Ashford, Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys in Canterbury, and the Canterbury Academy.
Investigation Underway
The UKHSA is investigating the outbreak, with Chief Scientific Officer Prof Robin May stating that the vaccines being deployed work well against the strain of invasive meningitis identified in Canterbury.
Prof Paul Hunter, from the University of East Anglia, said he was "fairly certain" the peak from the initial super spreader event has already passed, but secondary cases are still possible.
Vaccination Efforts
NHS Kent and Medway reported that 4,514 vaccines had been administered in Kent as of Friday afternoon, with 10,561 antibiotics handed out so far.
Four clinics will be open on Saturday, with two in Canterbury, one in Faversham, and one in Ashford, to continue the vaccination efforts.
Community Response
Students and older teens are not routinely vaccinated against the meningitis strain behind the Kent outbreak. Juliette Kenny's father, Michael, is urging the government to improve access to the MenB vaccine for young people at risk.
A Level student Isla Chambers said people have returned to pandemic behaviors, with everyone socially distancing and not making plans to go out.
