The NHS is offering a second dose of the meningitis B vaccine in Kent following a March outbreak that led to 20 confirmed cases and two deaths, including sixth-form pupil Juliette Kenny and an unnamed University of Kent student.
Clinics opened in Canterbury, Ashford, Faversham and Margate on Friday after the initial vaccination round saw high demand and long queues, with some students turned away.
More than 13,000 appointment slots are available for the second dose, with eligibility unchanged from the first rollout and including close contacts of cases, university students in halls, and those linked to exposure settings like Club Chemistry in Canterbury.
NHS bosses confirmed 900 slots at the University of Kent’s sports hall were fully booked on Friday, with PhD student Harry Meades the first to receive the second dose there.
Health officials advise a four-week gap between doses for complete protection, aiming to avoid the delays seen during the first rollout when queues stretched for hours.
At the outbreak’s peak, 34 people were hospitalised with confirmed or suspected invasive meningococcal disease, nine of whom required intensive care.
In response to UK cases, Cypriot health authorities have begun offering free MenB vaccinations to individuals connected to the University of Kent, including students preparing to study in the UK or recently returned, with services available at hospitals and health centres across Nicosia, Larnaca, Limassol, Paphos and Famagusta.
Appointments in Cyprus require valid student documentation and can be booked by phone through Ministry of Health vaccination centres.
Who is eligible for the second dose of the meningitis B vaccine in Kent?
Anyone previously offered preventative antibiotics by UKHSA, close contacts of confirmed cases, University of Kent students and staff in halls, students from other Canterbury universities in halls or off-campus where a case occurred, certain school and sixth-form pupils with confirmed or probable cases, and people linked to exposure settings like Club Chemistry.
How are Cypriot authorities responding to the meningitis B risk for students linked to UK universities?
Free MenB vaccinations are available in Cyprus to those connected to the University of Kent, including prospective and returning students, who must present student ID or enrollment proof and book appointments via Ministry of Health vaccination centres.
