Meningococcal Disease Outbreak

What is happening?

UKHSA has confirmed an outbreak of meningococcal disease in Kent. Health protection teams are actively managing the situation and are providing prophylactic antibiotics to individuals identified as close contacts of confirmed cases.

At this time, no new national guidance has been issued regarding wider public access to the MenB (meningitis B) vaccine.

MenB vaccine

The MenB vaccine is not available on the NHS for adults or the general public outside of the routine childhood immunisation programme, which began in 2015.
It can be accessed privately for those who wish to receive it.

Meningitis ACWY vaccine

This vaccine is routinely available on the NHS for people under 25 who have not previously received a dose.
Individuals over 25, or anyone who has already had their NHS‑eligible dose earlier in life, will need to obtain the MenACWY vaccine privately if they wish to be vaccinated.

Published: Mar 20, 2026