Following the recent meningitis outbreak in Kent, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) with NHS England and the government are coordinating a targeted vaccination programme against Meningitis B (MenB).
Here is what you need to know about who is eligible, how the vaccine works, and what other protections are available.
Who is currently eligible for the MenB vaccine?
Anyone who has been offered preventative antibiotics (also known as prophylaxis) is being offered the MenB vaccine. This includes:
- close contacts of those who are confirmed or suspected to have meningococcal disease
- students at the University of Kent who are normally resident on the Canterbury Campus, including those who may have now travelled home. Some staff living or working in these Halls of Residence have also been offered preventative antibiotics and are eligible for vaccination
- sixth form students (years 12 and 13) attending a secondary school or sixth form college in Kent where there has been a confirmed or probable case of meningococcal disease informed by local risk assessment
- anyone who visited or was working at Club Chemistry in Canterbury between 5 March and 16 March, when the venue closed voluntarily
The programme may be expanded further as UKHSA continues to assess the ongoing risk.
Eligible students will receive information from their school or university with details of how to access the vaccine.
If you are eligible but have already left the area, you can receive the vaccine at your local GP practice.
What is the risk to the wider public?
The risk of infection to the wider population remains low. This is because transmission of MenB requires close and prolonged contact to spread. Examples of this include living in the same household and intimate contact such as kissing or sharing drinks or vapes. The bacteria are not as contagious as other infections such as measles and COVID-19.
We are actively looking for contacts of people who have MenB (contact tracing) and offering preventative antibiotics to those in close contact with cases.
How does vaccination help?
Meningitis B is a serious illness caused by group B strains of meningococcal bacteria, which are a major cause of meningitis and sepsis in infants, teenagers and young people. The onset can be sudden, and early treatment is vital.
The vaccination course consists of 2 doses. The second dose should be given at least 4 weeks after the first for the best protection. It then takes at least 2 weeks after that second dose for your body to produce enough antibodies to be well protected, which is why those who are eligible are urged to come forward as soon as possible. We are currently putting arrangements in place to ensure that everyone who is eligible for MenB vaccination gets two doses.
The MenB vaccine prevents you from getting seriously ill, but it does not stop you from passing the bacteria on to others. This is one reason why antibiotics are also an important part of the response to this outbreak.
Why have antibiotics been prescribed?
Antibiotics are playing a critical and immediate role in responding to this outbreak. For anyone who has been in close contact with a confirmed or suspected case, preventative antibiotics are being offered to clear any meningococcal bacteria they may be carrying and reduce the risk of them becoming ill or passing the bacteria on to others.
If you’ve been offered antibiotics but have not yet collected them, please come forward as soon as you can. You can find the latest information about where to collect antibiotics here.
Is the MenB vaccine safe?
The MenB vaccine has been thoroughly tested and meets strict safety criteria. It has been routinely used in the infant vaccination programme in the UK since 2015 and has led to 75% reduction in MenB disease in vaccinated groups. The MenB vaccine has a good safety profile.
Are there any side effects from the MenB vaccine?
Like all medicines, the MenB vaccine can have side effects but not everyone gets them. Side effects show the vaccine is teaching the body’s immune system how to protect itself from the disease.
Common side effects of the MenB vaccine are usually mild and do not last long. They can include:
- a fever
- redness, swelling or tenderness around the injection site
- nausea and diarrhoea
- headache, malaise and muscle pain
These normally clear up within 1 or 2 days of vaccination. You can take a dose of over-the-counter paracetamol to alleviate symptoms if you have them. More serious side effects are very rare.
I’ve had the MenACWY vaccine. Do I still need the MenB vaccine?
Yes, if you’re eligible for the MenB vaccine then please come forward in the coming days to receive it, even if you have had the MenACWY vaccine.
Having had the MenACWY vaccine does not mean you are protected against MenB - the 2 vaccines protect against different strains.
The current outbreak in Kent has been identified as MenB which is one of several strains of bacteria that can cause meningitis, but there are other strains - A, C, W and Y - against which the MenACWY vaccine provides protection. This vaccine is routinely offered in school, usually in year 9, and anyone under 25 who has missed it can get a free catch-up dose from their GP.
Beyond these, the NHS also offers the MMRV vaccine as part of the routine childhood immunisation schedule, which protects against measles - another disease that can lead to meningitis. Older children and adults will be offered MMR. It is never too late to catch up: anyone who missed it as a child can get a free dose from their GP at any age.
Now is a good time for everyone - not just those directly affected by the current outbreak - to check that all their vaccinations are up to date.
Who is normally eligible for the MenB vaccine on the routine NHS programme?
Routine vaccination against MenB for babies and young children was introduced in 2015, so children born after 1 May 2015 will already have received the vaccine at their 8 weeks, 12 weeks and 1-year appointments. If your child has missed any of their MenB vaccines, they can still have the MenB vaccine up to the age of 2.
In light of this outbreak, the Health Secretary has also asked the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) to re-examine eligibility for the MenB vaccine.
UKHSA continues to assess any ongoing risk to other populations.
For more information and support, visit the following:
www.nhs.uk/conditions/meningitis
The Meningitis Research Foundation
UK: 0808 800 3344
Republic of Ireland: 1800 41 33 44 (9am to 5pm Monday to Friday)
Meningitis Now
0808 801 0388 (9am to 4pm Monday to Thursday and 9am to 1pm Friday)