Meningitis B outbreak spreads to second university amid shortage of vaccines

Health & Fitness
19 Mar 2026 • 12:17 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

image is not available

  • A fatal Meningitis B outbreak has spread to Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) in Kent, with one confirmed student case linked to the initial cluster at Club Chemistry.
  • This follows a major vaccine rollout for students at the University of Kent, initiated after the deaths of two young people, a sixth former and a university student.
  • At least 5,000 students in the county are eligible for the targeted vaccination programme to combat the "explosive" outbreak.
  • Pharmacies are experiencing shortages of the Meningitis B vaccine due to a surge in private demand.
  • Health chiefs are currently investigating 20 cases, with numbers expected to rise due to the incubation period, though a wider vaccine rollout is not immediately planned.

IN FULL