Health Secretary Wes Streeting has launched a targeted vaccine drive to close contacts in Kent while asking health officials whether older teens should get a catch up jab nationwide
A targeted vaccination campaign is being launched for people linked to the deadly meningitis outbreak in Kent.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said he will ask health officials whether older teens could be vaccinated across the country after the “unprecedented outbreak” which has killed two students and left at least 11 seriously ill. Mr Streeting confirmed some cases were confirmed as meningitis B for which young people aged over ten will not be protected against as childhood vaccination for this was not introduced until 2015.
Mr Streeting told the House of Commons: “This is an unprecedented outbreak. It is also a rapidly developing situation. This is the current situation – as of 9.30am this morning the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed four cases of group B meningococcal disease, with another 11 cases under investigation.
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“The two deaths are associated with this cluster. The majority of cases link back to the Club Chemistry nightclub over the dates of the 5th, 6th and 7th of March and their associated networks.”
Hundreds of people who visited Club Chemistry in Canterbury over that weekend have been told to come forward for preventative antibiotic treatment as a “precautionary measure”. Mr Streeting acknowledged that younger school age children may have been in the venue “who shouldn’t have”.
Mr Streeting said the bacteria could be spread by “prolonged contact” such as “kissing or the sharing of drinks or vapes”. He added: “Transmission requires close and prolonged contact to spread… so this is not like some of the other respiratory conditions that we’ve seen recently. It is important people understand how this disease is spread, because I think people might find that reassuring.”
Mr Streeting said he would ask the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which advises the UK government, to look again at whether older children should receive a meningitis B vaccine on the NHS. It could mean that unvaccinated older teens get jabbed.
Mr Streeting said: “On the question of wider eligibility, we obviously follow the expert independent advice of the JCVI. In light of this latest outbreak, I will be asking them to re-examine eligibility for meningitis vaccines. I will do so without prejudicing their decision because we have to follow the clinical advice on this.”
Wes Streeting laid out a timeline of when the infections were first diagnosed and said 700 doses of antibiotics have already been given out. The Health Secretary said the UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) was notified about the first case on March 13, at which point contact tracing began. UKHSA then contacted the University of Kent on Saturday. That day French officials alerted the agency to a case in France of somebody who attended the University of Kent.
Mr Streeting said hospitals reported later on Saturday a “number of severely unwell young adults were presenting with symptoms consistent with meningococcal disease”. He said: “All those traced were offered precautionary antibiotics. So far 700 doses have been administered.”
Local schools have had two meningitis cases identified in Year 13 and the UKHSA have sent letters to parents of pupils in the area. One of those who died was a Year 13 pupil in Faversham called Juliette.
Speaking in the Commons, Helen Whately MP said: “Juliet was a schoolgirl in year 13 at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in my constituency. She died of meningitis this weekend. Her headteacher said of her, she was ‘incredibly kind, thoughtful and intelligent and treasured’.
“Sixth formers and students mix in the same crowded venues in Canterbury, so the government must fully consider the risk to schoolkids as well as the students in the universities.”
Mr Streeting said all cases were currently being linked to the nightclub spreader event, adding: “There would have been other sixth formers over the age of 18, and potentially some who maybe should not have been in the nightclub. It’s really important that we we have a grip on who those young people are to make sure they get access to good, high quality, health information.”
