Waiting lists, waiting queues and pharmacies running out of stock as demand for meningitis B vaccines soars at Boots and Superdrug
As concerns and demand grow, pharmacies are running out of stock of meningitis B vaccine.
The rise comes after the UK Health and Safety Agency (UKHSA) confirmed it was investigating 20 cases of meningitis during an “explosive” outbreak in Kent that left two people dead.
Boots has introduced a queuing system for customers to access the vaccine service page on its website and issued a warning saying demand for the men’s vaccine is currently high.
Superdrug has also set up a waiting list for the vaccine and published a note on its website informing customers of a “national shortage” and stating “stock is limited”. It said it was “working with suppliers to secure more doses.”
The high street pharmacy reported a 65-fold increase in demand compared to last week.
Independent Pharmacists Association CEO Dr. Some pharmacies in Kent are also running out of supplies, according to Leyla Hannbeck.
Medway Pharmacy in Kent, which offers the MenB vaccine exclusively, said there were only a few doses of the vaccine left.
A pharmacist told Independent “demand is pretty high” and they were getting a lot of calls from parents asking where to get the vaccine.
“Parents are worried about their young children,” said one pharmacist. “Looks like some people missed it and that’s why they’re coming to get it now.”
The pharmacist added that around seven people had booked to be vaccinated this afternoon.
However, UKHSA said there was “sufficient stock of MenB vaccine”, adding that it would “work with local resilience partners to ensure effective distribution”.
There were reports online on Tuesday of other pharmacies allegedly overpricing vaccines and offering them for “a few hundred pounds”. But Mr Streeting said it was “immoral” for companies to profiteer in this situation.
Health chiefs have announced a targeted vaccination program for students living in Canterbury halls of residence but it has not been rolled out nationwide.
The MenB vaccine has been available on the NHS since 2015 as part of routine childhood vaccinations for babies, but this means many schoolchildren and university students have not received the vaccine.
Mr Streeting asked the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization (JCVI) to “re-examine the suitability of meningitis vaccines” for a wider group of people after deciding a MenB catch-up campaign for older children was not cost-effective.
Although the introduction of a targeted vaccine was recommended in this case, epidemiologists said that the menB vaccine was too expensive and did not stop transmission.
“This is an expensive vaccine and there are better things to spend the NHS budget on,” said Keith Neal, professor of epidemiology of infectious diseases at the University of Nottingham. Independent.
“The vaccine does not cover all group B strains. Unlike the ACWY vaccine, which stops people from carrying the bacteria, the B vaccine does not prevent carrying it.”
The MenB vaccine is available privately from Boots and Superdrug for £220 for two doses, which must be taken at least a month apart. By contrast, the ACWY vaccine costs £57 a dose and is offered on the NHS to young people at school, although up to the age of 25 can also be vaccinated if they miss it.
The charity Meningitis Now is calling for the menB vaccine to be made available on the high street at a “fair price” and to be made available to teens and young people as part of the NHS vaccination programme.
“Meningitis Now is calling for the menB vaccine to be made available at a fair price on the high street – so more people can make an informed choice and have the option to vaccinate their loved ones privately if they wish,” a spokesman said.
“But we also believe that the menB vaccine should be offered to teenagers and young people as part of the NHS vaccination programme. There is no other way to prevent MenB disease; we must vaccinate young people to protect them.”
A spokesperson for Superdrug said: “Following a significant increase in demand for the Meningitis B vaccine across the country, some nurse clinics are currently experiencing supply shortages. We are working urgently to secure additional stock and have contacted affected patients to reschedule appointments where necessary.”
