Patient Information: Meningitis B Outbreak in Canterbury & Kent

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed a local outbreak of Meningitis B (MenB) in the Canterbury area, with several cases linked to a specific nightclub venue and a number of affected students and young people. Public health teams are actively managing the situation.

What Is Happening?

  • UKHSA has reported a cluster of invasive Meningococcal Disease (MenB) in Canterbury.
  • Some cases have been severe and, sadly, a small number of deaths have occurred.
  • Antibiotics and targeted vaccination are being offered to people directly exposed, particularly those linked to the University of Kent or who visited Club Chemistry between 5–7 March.
  • The wider public is not considered to be at increased risk, and currently only specific groups are being contacted for treatment or vaccination.

MenB Vaccination – Who Is Routinely Eligible?

The routine NHS MenB vaccination programme began in 2015. It is offered to babies at the following ages:

  • 8 weeks
  • 12 weeks
  • 1 year

This means that:

  • Older children, teenagers, and adults are not routinely offered the MenB vaccine, unless they are in a high‑risk medical group or identified as a close contact in an outbreak.
  • Many people over age 10 have never received the MenB vaccine, unless they obtained it privately.

At present, there are no changes to routine eligibility and no national MenB vaccination programme for the general public beyond the groups above. This means that Woodview Medical Practice are unable to provide this vaccination.

Is There a Vaccine Available Now for the General Public?

At this time, there is no routine NHS MenB vaccination available for older children, teenagers, or adults outside the groups listed above. This means that we are unable to provide this vaccination.

Only individuals identified by UKHSA as close contacts—or those included in the targeted student vaccination programme at the University of Kent—are being invited for vaccination in response to this outbreak.

What Should You Do?

Most people do not need to take any action. However:

  • If you attended Club Chemistry in Canterbury on 5, 6, or 7 March, or have been contacted by UKHSA as a close contact, you should come forward for preventative antibiotics, which are highly effective in reducing spread.
  • If you feel unwell with symptoms such as fever, headache, stiff neck, rash that does not fade under a glass, vomiting, or drowsiness, seek urgent medical advice.
  • Unless the government makes the vaccinations available to the wider population

Published on 19 March 2026