What are the symptoms of meningitis and is there a vaccine?

Meningitis B is the strain behind an outbreak of cases in Kent, in which two people have died, the government’s health agency has confirmed.

An 18-year-old school pupil in Faversham, named as Juliette, and a 21-year-old student at the University of Kent were confirmed to have died from the infection.

Another 11 people are in hospital, according to the the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). It said it was notified of 13 cases with signs and symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia from Friday to Sunday in the Canterbury area.

The agency is advising anyone who visited Club Chemistry in Canterbury on 5, 6 or 7 March to come forward for preventative antibiotic treatment as a “precautionary measure”.

More than 30,000 students, staff and families in the Canterbury area are being contacted by the UKHSA.

What are meningitis and ‘invasive’ meningitis?

Meningitis is an infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord.

It can affect anyone but is most common in babies, young children, teenagers and young adults. It can be very serious if not treated quickly.

The cause of the infection – either certain bacteria or viruses – can be determined by tests.

Bacterial meningitis is rarer but more serious than viral meningitis. It can lead to blood poisoning or sepsis, and can affect the brain.

This acute, severe infection is known as invasive meningitis. It means the infection has invaded into the blood stream or brain linings.

Both people who have died in the invasive meningitis outbreak in Kent are believed to be aged between 18 and 21.

The specific strain of meningitis behind the Kent outbreak has been identified as type B disease (MenB), which is behind most cases of meningococcal disease in the UK.

In the most recent full year, 2024-2025, there were 378 cases of invasive meningococcal disease, according to official data.

Is there a vaccine?

Two vaccines protect against the main causes of meningitis and septicaemia.

The MenACWY vaccine offers protection against four types of bacteria that can cause meningitis – meningococcal groups A, C, W and Y – and is offered to teenagers aged 14 years old.

The MenB vaccine helps protect against meningococcal group B bacteria and is recommended for babies aged eight weeks, followed by a second dose at 12 weeks and a booster at one year.

Meningitis can sometimes occur as a complication of some other infections, meaning several other vaccinations can also help protect people.

A six-in-one vaccine given to young children – also known as the DTaP/IPV/Hib/Hep B vaccine – offers protection against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B, polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib).

A pneumococcal vaccine offers babies protection against serious infections caused by pneumococcal bacteria, including meningitis.

The MMRV vaccine, given to infants, offers protection against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox.

Generally, it takes a couple of weeks to get the fullest protection from a vaccine and some require booster doses.

Why aren’t teenagers vaccinated against MenB?

The MenB vaccine was introduced into the UK childhood immunisation programme in 2015 for babies. That means teenagers now will not have received it because it wasn’t available to them. People born on or after 1 July 2015 should have been offered it.

Some parents have paid private doctors to get the vaccine for teenagers. High street pharmacies offer a full course of two doses for around £220.

There have been calls for the MenB vaccine to be offered more widely to protect teenagers and young people, but the NHS does not currently offer a catch up campaign for MenB.

Research suggests the MenB vaccine doesn’t influence transmission of the infection from one person to another, it doesn’t target against all the different B bacteria strains and doesn’t protect for particularly long either.

Young babies are vaccinated because they are more likely to get invasive infections more often than other age groups, and their bodies are less likely to be able to fight them off.

For all those reasons, and despite campaigns by charities to have it introduced, UK vaccine experts have concluded that the MenB vaccine isn’t cost effective on the NHS for adolescents and so is not routinely recommended.

How do I find out whether I’m up to date on my vaccines?

Contact your GP to find out which vaccines you’ve already received if you’re not sure, or look at your red book which records the vaccines you’ve had.

Vaccine coverage has fallen since the Covid pandemic, meaning fewer children and teens are protected.

The MenACWY vaccine is free for anyone who missed out at school until your 25th birthday.

Most young people aged 13-15 in the UK should have had the MenACWY vaccine at school.

The MMR vaccine is free for everyone who missed out when they were younger regardless of their age.