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Meningitis: what you need to know following the outbreak of meningococcal disease in Kent

Thursday, 19 March 2026

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), NHS England (NHSE) and partners are coordinating the health response to cases of invasive meningococcal disease in Kent. 

The risk of infection to the wider population remains low but UKHSA and NHSE are actively looking for contacts of people who have MenB and offering preventative antibiotics to those in close contact with cases.  The MenB vaccine will now be offered to everyone who has been offered the preventative antibiotic treatment as part of the Kent outbreak.

If you have symptoms of meningitis, get medical help straight away. If someone goes to bed unwell, check on them regularly.

For clarity, the MenB vaccine was added to the NHS immunisation schedule for infants in 2015, providing protection for babies and young children in the UK. It is separate from the MenACWY NHS vaccine offered in schools to those in Year 9 (aged 13 to 14). 

Teens or young adults born before 1 May 2015, will not have received the MenB vaccine as part of the NHS schedule.

Useful links 

Updates on the current Kent outbreak can be found on the GOV.UK news page.

Read the UKHSA FAQ blog regarding the Meningitis B outbreak.

Trusted information and advice regarding symptoms can be found on the NHS website.

Frequently asked questions 

Can students in higher education under 25 have the MenACWY at a catch-up clinic or GP surgery? 

The East Riding and Hull catch-up clinics offered through Vaccination UK are for those currently in secondary school. Anyone under 25 but no longer at school is advised to book via their GP. 

If you're under 25 and you missed having the MenACWY vaccine in school, you should ideally have it at least two weeks before starting college or university. Ask your GP about getting vaccinated, as well as checking you have had both doses of MMR to protect from outbreaks of mumps and measles.

If a young person has already started college or university, they are always advised to get these vaccine/s as soon as possible.

The HPV vaccine is also available for free on the NHS for those aged under 25 if missed in Year 8, for girls (and boys – born after 1 September 2006).

What is the difference between the MenACWY vaccine and MenB?

The current Kent outbreak is linked to Meningitis B (MenB), but there are a number of strains of the meningococcal infection. The overall risk of MenB to people outside the Kent area remains low.

The spread of MenB requires close and prolonged contact, including 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.   

Currently, babies are routinely given the MenB vaccine at 8 weeks, 12 weeks and one year old to help protect against this common type of bacteria that causes meningitis. If missed, children can still have the MenB vaccine up to the age of two.

The MenACWY vaccine is given to teens in school (normally Year 9 – aged 13 to 14) and helps protect against four other types of bacteria linked to meningitis – MenA, MenC, MenW, and MenY. However, this vaccine does not protect against all forms of meningococcal infection.

Because other strains such as MenB can also spread in young adults, it is important for everyone to know how to spot the symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia as early detection and treatment can save lives.  

Equally, the MenB vaccine does not protect against other causes of meningitis or sepsis, so it is still important to be aware of the symptoms. It also does not prevent the bacteria from being carried and spread in the community.  

Anyone can get meningitis but it's most common in babies, children, teenagers and young adults.

The Vaccination UK catch-up clinics are full what options do we have? 

Vaccination UK have confirmed with our health protection team that although the original Easter holiday catch-up clinics have now been booked up due to extra demand, their vaccination team will run further catch-up sessions during May which will be shared through schools and via our socials. Confirmed dates will also be published on the www.schoolvaccination.uk webpage: Catch-up clinics | Hull & East Riding

Additionally, extra in-school catch-up sessions for MenACWY, Td/IPV (3-in-1 teenage booster), HPV or MMR vaccines will also run as normal over the summer term across East Riding (and Hull) secondaries following the current HPV sessions. 

If anyone has questions, please contact the local Vaccination UK team:

Call: (01482) 453 690
Email:hullandeastriding@vaccinationuk.co.uk

Unsure if your child has had their routine NHS vaccinations?

Please refer to your child's 'red book' if you are unsure if they have had the MMR vaccine. 

It is best for your child to have their vaccinations according to the NHS vaccination schedule, but it's never too late to check if they can still have them.

Call or visit your GP surgery to make sure your child has any vaccinations they've missed, whatever the reason.

Useful information

Read the NHS vaccination schedule if you are unsure of the current vaccinations and recent changes, including the MMRV: NHS vaccinations and when to have them - NHS

Visit the Meningitis Now charity website. For advice call: 0808 80 10 388 (9am to 4pm Monday to Thursday and 9am to 1pm Friday).

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