Meningitis

Please find below an update on the current situation following the meningitis outbreak in Kent.

• Please see the NHS guidance for signs and symptoms of meningitis:
  https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/meningitis/
• Babies – under the NHS immunisation schedule, babies are vaccinated against Meningitis B from 8 weeks up to their second birthday and will be routinely invited to attend the surgery for their vaccinations.
• School aged children – are routinely offered the Meningitis ACWY (MenACWY) vaccine at school in Year 9. If your child is in year 9 and 10 and missed their vaccination, the LLR School Aged Immunisation Service provides catch up clinics, they can be contacted by email lpt.sais@nhs.net or telephone 0300 3000 007.
• Individuals who have left school following their GCSEs up to the age of 25 who missed the Year 9 routine MenACWY vaccination at school and have not yet received the vaccine, can contact the surgery for their immunisation.
• MenB – older children, teenagers, and adults are not routinely offered the MenB vaccine on the NHS unless advised as part of a specific outbreak response. If patients would like the MenB vaccine privately, it is available through some pharmacies and private clinics.
• If an individual has returned home from Canterbury, Kent and has not already received prophylaxis through UKHSA-coordinated clinics, we will prescribe this.
• In the event of a local outbreak, we will follow guidance from UKHSA Health Protection Teams.