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The UK Health Security Agency has reported an increase in the number of suspected or confirmed meningitis cases in Kent, rising from 29 to 34. Among these, 23 cases have been confirmed through laboratory testing, while 11 remain under investigation. This surge in cases has prompted an extensive vaccination response across the county.
Since the vaccination campaign began on Wednesday, prompted by a recent outbreak that tragically resulted in the deaths of two young individuals, 5,841 people have been vaccinated. To meet growing demand, a fifth vaccination centre has been opened at the QEQM Hospital in Margate in addition to the existing four locations: the University of Kent sports centre in Canterbury, Kent and Canterbury Hospital in Canterbury, Faversham Health Centre, and Vicarage Lane Clinic in Ashford. Hundreds of people have been queuing early in the morning to receive the meningitis vaccine, with some, like Anya Trickett, arriving before dawn. Anya, who was first in line at the University of Kent vaccination centre, shared her frustration after being turned away from a clinic at a hospital the previous day. “I found that ridiculous as it was supposed to be open until 17:00,” she said. “So, today I made my way here really early to make sure I got seen.”
In addition to vaccinations, more than 11,033 people have been administered antibiotics since the outbreak became widely known on Sunday. Professor Shamez Ladhani of the UK Health Security Agency expressed confidence in managing the situation, stating, “It’s actually doing exactly how we would expect these kind of outbreaks to do.” He emphasized that meningitis spreads differently compared to respiratory viruses like flu or Covid, noting, “The messaging is that the general public is really only at baseline risk.”
The outbreak has deeply affected the local community, especially following the deaths of two young individuals: one a sixth form pupil from Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School in Faversham named Juliette Kenny, and the other an unnamed student from the University of Kent. In a message to students, the university’s vice-chancellor, Professor Georgina Randsley de Moura, called the week “incredibly difficult” and extended her sympathies for those grieving and unwell. She also praised the swift clinical response, describing it as “incredible.” Four schools in the Canterbury area currently have confirmed or suspected cases, including Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, Norton Knatchbull School in Ashford, Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys, and the Canterbury Academy, with a fifth school reporting a negative test result for its student
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