The government has expanded meningitis vaccination eligibility in Kent after seven new cases brought the total to 27. Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced that anyone who attended Club Chemistry in Canterbury between 5 and 15 March should receive antibiotics and the MenB vaccine.
The expansion covers students at the University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church University, as well as sixth formers at four schools with confirmed or suspected cases. The University of Kent confirmed all its students and staff are now eligible. Over 600 vaccines and 6,500 antibiotic doses have been administered so far.
Two deaths have been reported, including one school pupil and one university student. Officials described it as the fastest-growing outbreak they have seen. More than 100 students were turned away from a vaccination clinic at the University of Kent due to capacity, but the clinic will reopen on Friday.
UK Health Security Agency chief scientific officer Prof Robin May said the outbreak's size could be due to behaviour or bacterial evolution. The UKHSA confirmed 15 laboratory cases and 12 under investigation, with one linked case in London.
