In response to a sudden surge in meningitis cases, an urgent catch-up vaccination program is being rolled out to schools impacted by the outbreak. The alarming increase saw cases rise by over a third in just one day.
Authorities are now calling on approximately 15,000 individuals who may have been exposed to the meningitis B strain to promptly receive the menB vaccine. This urgent measure aims to curb the unprecedented spread of the infection.
However, health officials have faced criticism after halting the vaccination queue at the University of Kent, turning away more than 100 students to ensure the clinic could close by 5 p.m. as scheduled.
The university took to Facebook to inform the public on the same day the meningitis cases jumped from 20 to 27, including three newly diagnosed cheerleaders. The post read: “The queue has been closed as nursing staff are unable to see any more people within the clinic’s remaining opening hours today. The team have been working incredibly hard to vaccinate as many people as possible.”
The outbreak has been traced back to Club Chemistry, a popular nightclub in Canterbury, Kent. Tragically, it has already claimed the lives of Juliette Kenny, an 18-year-old sixth-form student, and a 21-year-old student from the University of Kent.
The outbreak, which has been linked to Club Chemistry, a nightclub in Canterbury, Kent, has already left sixth-form pupil Juliette Kenny, 18, and a University of Kent student, 21, dead.
The bacteria is believed to have spread in student accommodation at the university, potentially among those sharing vapes, drinks bottles and cooking utensils.
It said the vaccination clinic will reopen tomorrow from 9am to 5pm and advised people to be in the queue by 2pm.
Students queuing to receive vaccines and antibiotics at the University of Kent campus in Canterbury
Health secretary Wes Streeting announced on a visit to the university that more people affected by the meningitis outbreak will be vaccinated.
He said anyone who attended Club Chemistry from March 5 until March 15 would be offered the jab, alongside sixth-formers at four schools and other university students in Canterbury.
These are proportionate steps to help us contain spread and we’re keeping that situation under review,’ he added.
The NHS has written to all GPs telling them to offer jabs to eligible patients who may have left Kent and returned to their family home so they do not need to return to the county.
Professor Robin May, UKHSA chief scientific officer, described the cluster of cases as a ‘very unusual outbreak’ and said experts are examining whether the bacteria itself may have ‘evolved to be better at transmitting’.
Meanwhile, Dr Anjan Ghosh, director of public health at Kent County Council, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme they were not in the position yet to say that definitively the outbreak has been contained.
More than 8,500 antibiotics and 1,600 vaccines have been now given to eligible people in Kent amid the meningitis outbreak.
However, at 4.10pm today, students were still trying to join the ‘atrocious’ queue for vaccines at the university but security staff turned them away.
Wes Streeting, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, arrives as students receive the Meningitis B vaccine at the University of Kent
Dozens who had already been waiting in line were also told to go home, including those who had visited Club Chemistry in recent weeks.
Those trying to join were told that medical staff administering vaccines had to work out how many people they could fit in before the service officially closed at 5pm.
It is understood staff wanted to vaccinate the final person at 4.30pm, in order to give them enough time to sit during the necessary 15-minute observation period to ensure they had no immediate side-effects.
Isobel, 21, an English literature student at the University of Kent, was turned away after her mother drove them 80 minutes to the centre.
She said: ‘It is very inconvenient. I’m coming back tomorrow and hope that they have got some.’
Olivia Parkins, 18, who is part of the cheerleading society at the University of Kent, said there have been three confirmed cases within the group – all of whom are in hospital.
The student, who studies classical civilisations, was at her home in Bromley when she heard about the outbreak.
She said she has been in contact with the cases, adding: ‘So far they’re OK.’
Morrisons confirmed an employee at its Sittingbourne distribution centre who attended Club Chemistry has contracted meningitis.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said that as of 5pm on Wednesday, 15 cases of meningitis have been confirmed and a further 12 are under investigation.
Currently, nine of the 15 confirmed cases are known to be caused by menB.
The UKHSA said four schools in Kent have confirmed cases of meningitis, while the London animation and games school Escape Studios said one if its students with links to the county had contracted meningitis.
Officials said 20,000 vaccines from the NHS supply will be made available to the private market to ease the demand at pharmacies from people who want to pay for a jab.
It comes after some were accused of cashing in the crisis by hiking prices amid a shortage.
