Worried parents are urgently contacting pharmacies in a bid to secure meningitis vaccinations for their children following an outbreak in Kent.
Parents scramble for meningitis vaccines
The outbreak, centred around Canterbury, has led to 15 confirmed cases of invasive meningitis in a matter of days. Two people have died, including a 21-year-old university student and a sixth form pupil, heightening concern among families in the area and beyond.
The UK Health Security Agency said the situation is developing quickly, with chief executive Susan Hopkins previously warning of its "explosive nature"
In response, parents are turning to private vaccinations, with pharmacies being inundated with calls from families hoping to book appointments.
One pharmacy owner in Berkshire described the level of concern among parents.
Speaking to The Guardian, they said: "I have received about 30 or 40 calls in two hours from people wanting to book their entire families for vaccinations. They are worried. They are getting agitated."
Vaccines covering meningitis B, the strain involved in the outbreak, are being offered privately at prices of £200 or more per child. For example, Boots charges around £220 for the two required doses.
A targeted vaccination programme at the University of Kent will see around 5,000 students in halls receive the MenB vaccine from Wednesday (18.03.26) to limit further spread.
Health authorities said transmission may have taken place at Club Chemistry in Canterbury, urging anyone who visited the venue between 5 and 7 March to seek precautionary antibiotic treatment, even if they are not showing symptoms.
Routine vaccination against MenB was only introduced in 2015, meaning many current university students and older teenagers were not eligible for childhood immunisation and may remain vulnerable.
Meningitis is a serious infection that causes inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms can develop quickly and may include fever, headache, stiff neck, sensitivity to light, vomiting and confusion. In severe cases, it can lead to sepsis, brain damage or death.