University of Kent Meningitis Vaccine Clinic Turns Away Over 100 Students
More than 100 students were turned away from a meningitis vaccination clinic at the University of Kent's Canterbury campus on Thursday after officials closed the queue due to capacity issues. The university stated that nursing staff were unable to see any more people within the clinic's remaining opening hours, which were scheduled to end at 5pm.
Clinic Closure and Reopening Plans
The university confirmed that the vaccination clinic will reopen on Friday from 9am to 5pm, advising people to be in the queue by 2pm to secure their place. At 4.10pm on Thursday, students were still attempting to join the queue but were turned away by security staff. Dozens who had already been waiting in line were also told to go home.
Medical staff administering vaccines had to calculate how many people they could accommodate before the service officially closed at 5pm. It is understood that staff aimed to vaccinate the final person by 4.30pm, allowing enough time for the necessary 15-minute observation period to monitor for immediate side-effects.
Meningitis Outbreak Details and Response
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported that as of 5pm on Wednesday, 15 cases of meningitis have been confirmed, with a further 12 under investigation. This brings the total to 27 cases of either confirmed or suspected meningitis, up from 20 on Wednesday. Tragically, two students have died in the outbreak, with nine of the 15 confirmed cases known to be caused by menB.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced that anyone who attended the local venue Club Chemistry from March 5 until March 15 would be offered the jab, alongside sixth-formers at four schools and other university students in Canterbury. He emphasized that all patients eligible for antibiotics will now be able to request a vaccination and antibiotics from their local GP immediately, covering students who have travelled home.
Student Experiences and Broader Impact
Hayden Taylor, a 19-year-old radiography student at Canterbury Christ Church University, arrived at the campus vaccine clinic around 3pm on Thursday after already receiving antibiotics. He noted the expected busyness of the clinic. Isobel, a 21-year-old English literature student at the University of Kent, was turned away after her mother drove 80 minutes to the centre, expressing frustration but hope to return on Friday.
In other developments, Morrisons confirmed an employee at its Sittingbourne distribution centre who attended Club Chemistry has contracted meningitis. Olivia Parkins, an 18-year-old member of the University of Kent's cheerleading society, reported three confirmed cases within the group, all hospitalized. The UKHSA also noted four schools in Kent with confirmed cases and a student at London's Escape Studios with links to the county contracting meningitis.
Expert Insights and Future Measures
Professor Robin May, UKHSA chief scientific officer, described this as a "very unusual outbreak", with experts investigating why meningitis may have become more transmissible. He highlighted that the bacteria can be transmitted by sharing utensils, cups, and vapes. Meanwhile, more than 8,500 antibiotics and 1,600 vaccines have been administered to eligible people in Kent amid the outbreak.
The UKHSA announced that 20,000 vaccines from the NHS supply will be made available to the private market to ease demand at pharmacies. Louise Jones-Roberts, owner of Club Chemistry, welcomed the increased vaccine availability but called for broader vaccination of under-25s nationwide. Dr. Anjan Ghosh, Kent County Council's director of public health, stated that it is too early to definitively say the outbreak has been contained.
