London, United Kingdom. British health authorities said on Friday they will offer thousands of students protection against meningococcal B disease through a one-off vaccination programme following the country’s largest outbreak of the disease earlier this year.
The programme, launching this summer, is aimed at those considered to face the highest immediate risk while the government reviews evidence to decide whether any further vaccine rollout is needed.
Outbreak prompts targeted response
Two people died in March during a MenB outbreak in Kent, in southeast England, which health authorities said was the largest and fastest-growing ever seen in Britain.
UK authorities said on Friday there have also been more clusters of the disease this year than is usual, and that they have been larger than expected.
Groups included in the programme
The two-dose programme will cover all Year 13 pupils in England, who are aged 17 and 18, as well as people under 25 who are starting university or residential further education for the first time this autumn.
Health authorities said the programme is intended to provide protection for those beginning university this autumn.
Risk among students
MenB tends to affect students disproportionately because the risk is higher due to close and prolonged contact in halls of residence and at social events.
Adolescents in Britain are not routinely vaccinated against meningitis B, although the country has offered a vaccine against the disease to babies since 2015.