Patient Update: Meningitis Outbreak in the News
You may have seen the news about a meningitis outbreak in Kent, that has very sadly led to two young people dying.
This has been confirmed to cases of Meningitis B, or MenB.
Meningitis is the name given to a group of infections. They can cause cause swelling around the brain and spinal cord. It can be caused by different germs, including bacteria and viruses.
MenB can pass through spit or saliva – coughs, sneezes, kissing or sharing utensils. People can have the bacteria in their nose or throat without symptoms.
Meningitis B – Key Facts
In the UK, MenB is now the most common cause of serious bacterial meningitis. This is mainly vaccinations against other types of meningitis have reduced cases.
The MenB vaccine is given to babies as part of the NHS routine schedule. Young children can have the MenB vaccine to the age of 2, if it was not given earlier.
Since its introduction in 2015, cases in vaccinated children have fallen significantly.
The NHS doe not offer MenB vaccines to older children, teens or other age groups – that means anyone 11+ won’t have had a MenB vaccine, unless it was done privately.
Meningitis Vaccinations
These are the routine NHS vaccines that cover different types of meningitis. You can see the full NHS vaccine schedule on the NHS website.
| Vaccine | When Given | Catch up |
|---|---|---|
| MenB (1st dose) | 8 weeks | Yes – up to age 2, through GPs |
| MenB (2nd dose) | 12 weeks | Yes – up to age 2, through GPs |
| Pneumococcal vaccine (1st dose) | 16 weeks | Yes, through GPs |
| MMRV vaccine (1st dose for children born on or after 1 January 2025) | 1 year | Yes – for children born between 1 January 2020 to 31 August 2022. (Catch up will start in November 2026) |
| Pneumococcal vaccine (2nd dose) | 1 year | Yes, through GPs |
| MenB vaccine (3rd dose) | 1 year | Yes – up to age 2, through GPs |
| MMRV vaccine (1st or 2nd dose for children born on or after 1 July 2024) | 1 year and 6 months | Yes – for children born between 1 January 2020 to 31 August 2022. (Catch up will start in November 2026) |
| MMRV vaccine (1st or 2nd dose for children born between 1 September 2022 and 31 December 2024) | 3 years and 4 months | Yes – for children born between 1 January 2020 to 31 August 2022. (Catch up will start in November 2026) |
| MenACWY vaccine | 14 years | Yes – up to age 25, through GPs |
| Pneumococcal vaccine | 65 years | Yes – through GPs |
What to do
First, it’s important to know the symptoms of meningitis. They include:
- A high temperature
- A severe headache
- Neck stiffness
- Sensitivity to light
- Feeling very sleepy, confused, or difficult to wake
- Vomiting
- A rash that does not fade when pressed
Symptoms can appear in any order or not at all. People with meningitis can get very illd quickly, so seek medical help immediately – do not wait for more symptoms or for a rash to develop.
Call 999 for an ambulance or go to your nearest A&E immediately if you think you or someone you look after could have meningitis or sepsis.
Call NHS 111 for advice if you’re not sure if it’s anything serious.
Second, catch up on any missed vaccines.
If you, or someone you look after, has missed any routine NHS vaccinations – for meningitis or anything else – book a catch up if you can.
Check your child’s Red Book for details of childhood immunisations, or look in the NHS App, if you have proxy access in place.