Most Teens Aren't Vaccinated Against 'MenB' – Charity Calls For Change
This article features advice from Dr Tom Nutt, of Meningitis Now, Professor Adam Finn of the University of Bristol, and Professor Emma Wall, clinical professor of infectious diseases at Queen Mary University of London.
The meningitis outbreak among students in Kent has included cases of B meningococcal disease, sometimes known as MenB,
On Tuesday, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said it was continuing to investigate the outbreak – with four laboratory cases confirmed and 11 under investigation. This includes two people who have died.
Group B meningococcal disease can cause serious illness, including severe inflammation of the brain membrane (meningitis) and blood poisoning (septicaemia), which can prove fatal.
Most teens and adults aren’t vaccinated against MenB
Meningitis most commonly occurs in babies, young children, teens and young adults.
There are three vaccines which protect against the main causes of meningitis.
The MenB vaccine is offered to infants at eight weeks, 16 weeks and one year of age, as part of routine NHS vaccinations – this came into play in 2015 so anyone under 10 has some protection.
Babies are also given the pneumococcal vaccine at 16 weeks and one year.
The MenACWY vaccine protects teenagers against four types of bacteria linked to meningitis and is usually given in school during Year 9 (when kids are aged 13-14).
But the latter vaccine doesn’t protect teens from MenB, experts have warned.
Most teenagers and adults aren’t protected against it unless they’ve paid privately for a vaccine on the high street.
Charity calls for MenB to be added to routine vaccinations for teens
Meningitis Now’s chief executive Dr Tom Nutt noted there are “gaps” in the NHS immunisation schedule, particularly around MenB.
“We are campaigning for the MenB vaccination to be made more widely available to those at risk, especially teenagers and young adults,” he told HuffPost UK.
He noted that vaccines “are the only way to prevent meningitis” – that said, he caveated that “vaccines do not protect against all causes of meningitis and no vaccine is 100% effective”.
Prof Adam Finn, Professor Emeritus of Paediatrics at University of Bristol, added that protection from the vaccine “lasts for some years, but not forever”.
The MenB vaccines also do not “reduce carriage and transmissions of the bacterium,” he noted, meaning you could have the vaccine and still carry or transmit the bacteria to others.
Ultimately, it’s important that people make themselves aware of the signs and symptoms of meningitis, and to get immediate medical help if they suspect themselves or a loved one could have it.
Signs of meningitis
Symptoms of meningitis can come on very quickly and be easily mistaken for flu or a bad cold, or even the after-effects of a night out, Dr Nutt previously told us.
Early symptoms, which may not always be present, include:
- a rash that does not fade when pressed with a glass
- sudden onset of high fever
- severe and worsening headache
- stiff neck
- vomiting and diarrhoea
- joint and muscle pain
- dislike of bright lights
- very cold hands and feet
- seizures
- confusion/delirium
- extreme sleepiness/difficulty waking
Anyone with these symptoms is urged to seek medical help immediately by contacting a GP, calling NHS 111 or dialling 999 in an emergency.
“Despite what has happened in Kent, we would like to reiterate that meningitis is a relatively rare disease,” said Dr Nutt.
“In the long-run, the good news is that the NHS vaccination programme has been very successful in bringing down the number of cases of meningitis in the UK.”
The charity’s “No Plan B for MenB” campaign calls for three changes to offer greater protection to the public.
These include: a MenB vaccination given to all those at most risk of disease; a MenB booster programme to protect adolescents by 2030; and availability of the MenB vaccination on the high street at a fair price.
What happens now?
Health officials are continuing to monitor the situation in Kent.
UKHSA confirmed a small targeted vaccination programme will begin among students resident at Canterbury Campus Halls of Residence at the University of Kent.
Professor Emma Wall, clinical professor of infectious diseases at Queen Mary University of London, explained that UKHSA might do this to “reduce the risk of a further outbreak, or shut down transmission (so-called ring vaccination)”.
The vaccination programme may be expanded further as UKHSA continues to asses ongoing risk.
As some of the cases visited Club Chemistry in Canterbury between 5-7 March prior to becoming unwell, UKHSA is urging anyone who visited the club during this time to come forward for preventative antibiotic treatment as a precautionary measure.
HuffPost UK has contacted the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) about whether there are plans to add Men B to the routine teen vaccine.