Parents across the UK are scrambling to secure meningitis B vaccines for their children amid a surge in demand following an outbreak in Kent that has killed two people and left 13 seriously ill. Pharmacies report that stocks are running low, with many unable to obtain supplies from wholesalers.
The outbreak, linked to the Club Chemistry nightclub in Canterbury on 5, 6 and 7 March, has been described as 'unprecedented' by Health Secretary Wes Streeting. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is leading contact tracing efforts and has offered vaccines to students at the University of Kent, but stresses that the outbreak has not spread beyond the county.
A snap poll by the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) found that 87% of pharmacies have seen a dramatic rise in requests from concerned parents. Many are paying over £200 per child for the two-jab course, with Boots charging £220. One pharmacy owner in Berkshire reported receiving 30 to 40 calls in two hours from people wanting to book entire families for vaccinations.
NPA chair Olivier Picard said demand is 'far exceeding supply', forcing pharmacies to manage constrained levels. The MenB vaccine is routinely given to babies on the NHS but not to older children and young adults, leaving many unprotected. Raj Matharu of Community Pharmacy London noted that parents are 'increasingly desperate' and walking into pharmacies hoping to get vaccinated, but supplies are unavailable.
The Meningitis Research Foundation has called for better protection for teenagers and young adults, including routine MenB vaccination. The National Union of Students also urged that all students be offered the vaccine. Meanwhile, the UKHSA continues to monitor the situation, with no evidence of wider spread beyond Kent.
