Pharmacies across the United Kingdom are witnessing an unprecedented surge in bookings for meningitis vaccines as individuals seek private immunisation in response to a concerning outbreak in Kent. Superdrug has reported to the Press Association that appointments for its meningitis vaccination service have skyrocketed to 65 times the level observed just one week ago.
Outbreak Details and Vaccine Availability
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed that several cases in the Kent outbreak involve meningitis B, a strain that has tragically resulted in the deaths of two young people and hospitalised others. While the meningitis B vaccine was introduced into the routine childhood immunisation programme for babies in 2015, a significant portion of young people born before that year remain unprotected unless they have obtained the jab privately.
Pharmacy Services and Pricing
Multiple pharmacy chains are offering the meningitis B vaccine to address this gap. At Superdrug, the vaccine is available for children from two months old and adults up to age 50, with a recommended course of two to three doses priced at £110 per dose. A spokesperson for Superdrug stated, "Bookings at our nurse clinics for our meningitis service this week have surged to 65 times the level seen last week."
Boots provides the vaccination for adults and children aged two and over, costing £220 for two doses. Well Pharmacy offers a similar service for the same age groups, with doses also at £110 each. Asda launched its meningitis vaccine service last year, with a full menB course available for £179.76. However, appointment availability varies nationally; as of March 17, appointments were accessible in major cities like London but not at the Boots store in Canterbury.
Public Health Response and Expert Advice
UKHSA officials are actively investigating the outbreak, with full results pending to confirm the strain in additional cases. In the meantime, public health measures are underway. On Monday, hundreds of individuals who visited Club Chemistry in Canterbury on March 5, 6, or 7 were advised to come forward for preventative antibiotic treatment as a precautionary measure.
Professor Andrew Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group at the University of Oxford, emphasised the importance of timely intervention. He explained, "The first question on vaccination is whether this B strain is covered by the vaccine as this isn't always the case – this takes time for the UKHSA to work out in the laboratory. If it does match, B vaccines are great but it takes time for the immune response to kick in after the jab, so the absolute priority today is to ensure that those exposed get antibiotics to stop them developing the disease or spreading the B germs to others."
Campaigns and NHS Recommendations
The charity Meningitis Now has advocated for broader access to meningitis B vaccines, calling for teenagers and young people to be vaccinated on the NHS through its No Plan B for menB campaign. The charity also urges that menB jabs be made available on the high street at a fair price. On the NHS, the menB jab is recommended for babies at eight weeks, with follow-up doses at 12 weeks and a booster at one year.
Other routine childhood vaccines, such as the 6-in-1 and pneumococcal vaccines, offer protection against meningitis. Additionally, the MenACWY vaccine, introduced in 2015, protects against four strains of meningococcal bacteria and is offered to teenagers in school and university entrants up to age 25.
As the situation evolves, health authorities continue to monitor the outbreak closely, stressing the critical need for both vaccination and antibiotic prophylaxis to curb the spread and impact of meningitis B in the community.
