NHS offers second dose of MenB vaccine after outbreak in Kent | UK | News

NHS offering second dose of meningitis B to almost 12,000 people Vaccine After the deadly epidemic City. Two people have died and 19 more people have been confirmed to have contracted the disease, including university students and schoolchildren among those recommended two doses of the vaccine.

NHS Kent and Medway told the BBC appointments will be available at many locations. More details regarding booking the venue are expected to be announced on Monday, April 13. People will be able to make an appointment online. Clinics are expected to open in Ashford, Canterbury and Faversham, according to the broadcaster.

Among those offered injections were students in dormitories in the district and those who attended entertainment at a nightclub.

Staff and visitors to Club Chemistry, held in Canterbury between 5-15 March, were also eligible for this programme. MenB vaccines.

NHS Kent and Medway, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and Kent County Council were involved in the response to the meningococcal outbreak.

A total of 11,747 vaccinations have been administered, according to NHS Kent and Medway.

The vaccine protects against most strains of meningococcal group B bacteria found in the UK.

A second dose must be given four weeks after the first dose, but this can also be given later, according to the NHS.

UKHSA declared a national incident after sixth grader, Juliette KennyAn 18-year-old and an unnamed 21-year-old university student died after contracting the disease.

Routine vaccination against MenB was introduced for infants and young children in 2015.

Those born before this date were not protected; This led Health Secretary Wes Streeting to ask the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization to consider vaccinating young people.

Mr Streeting described the outbreak in Kent as “unprecedented” due to the number of people infected in a relatively short period of time.