Kent Meningitis Outbreak Linked To Canterbury Nightclub As Vaccines Extended To Year 11 Pupils At Four Schools

Health authorities have widened their vaccination programme in Kent to include Year 11 pupils at four schools, as new data confirms a Canterbury nightclub at the centre of the meningitis B outbreak that has claimed two lives and left four people in intensive care.
The UK Health Security Agency confirmed on Tuesday that 20 of the 23 confirmed and probable cases are known to have visited Club Chemistry in Canterbury between 5 and 7 March. The remaining cases all involve University of Kent students living in halls of residence. The earliest case linked to the outbreak has been traced to 9 March, with the peak occurring on 13 March and the most recent confirmed case recorded on 16 March.
All those affected are young people, with an average age of 19, according to the UKHSA’s published report.
The decision to extend vaccinations to 15 and 16-year-olds at the four affected schools has been taken as a precautionary measure to secure longer-term protection, the agency said. Pupils at those schools have been asked to await further instructions rather than attend existing vaccination clinics. More than 10,600 people have already received the meningitis B vaccine since the outbreak began, with over 13,300 doses of antibiotics also administered.
The total number of confirmed cases remains at 20, with three further cases still under investigation. No new cases have been reported for two consecutive days, and regional officials said earlier this week that the outbreak had passed its peak.
On the University of Kent campus in Canterbury, the atmosphere remained subdued on Tuesday as students queued for vaccinations. Chloe Bower said the vaccine held particular significance for her family, as her mother had contracted meningitis at a younger age. Fellow student Ella King described Canterbury as feeling “like a ghost town”, saying students had been reluctant to venture into the city since returning. University worker Tushar Jhanwar said people had been frightened but that support had been strong.
The UKHSA’s chief scientific officer, Professor Robin May, said the agency’s analysis provided reassurance that existing vaccines and antibiotic treatments would be effective against the strain involved in the outbreak. A number of factors may have contributed to its spread, the report noted, including characteristics of the strain itself, varying levels of immunity among those exposed, and social and environmental conditions.
Health officials are continuing to monitor the situation closely as the extended school vaccination programme gets under way.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​