London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

The meningitis B vaccination programme will be expanded to include Year 11 pupils at schools affected by the meningococcal (meningitis) outbreak in Kent, according to the latest update from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

Over the past few days, confirmed case numbers have fallen but vaccinations will now be widened to 15- and 16-year-olds at affected schools as a precautionary measure to offer longer protection.

Over a dozen people have been hospitalised as part of this outbreak and two people have died. Extensive laboratory testing has identified a strain of meningitis B that may have significant genetic differences but further analysis is required to see if this may have had any impact on its spread.

Antibiotics are also being offered alongside the meningitis B (MenB) vaccine and the UKHSA have confirmed that both are effective at targeting this strain.

Experts at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) recently explained how meningitis B infections can cause serious illness. Below, they answer common questions around the MenB vaccine in the UK.

Should I get the meningitis B (MenB) vaccine?

The risk of widespread transmission of MenB is still low. This is because the bacteria spreads through very close contact, like kissing and sharing drinks.

Students who are eligible to get the vaccine as part of this outbreak will be contacted directly. Currently they include close contacts of confirmed cases, students and staff at the main affected campus, and other students who attend universities and schools in Kent. You can find more information on the UKHSA website.

Dr Eliza Gil, Clinical Lecturer at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) said: “Individuals outside the outbreak area should not feel under pressure to rush to vaccinate themselves or their families. MenB is a very different type of infection to COVID. This bacteria has been causing infections for a long time, so we have familiarity with how it spreads and how to intervene to prevent infections. 

“It is very unlikely that this outbreak will lead to a national response as the majority of cases are contained to a small geographic area, and the bacteria require close contact to spread, which is why the interventions are being targeted at individuals within the affected area. The absolute risk of invasive MenB infection in individuals in the wider country remains extremely low.”

If I’ve had the MenB vaccine, do I still need to take the antibiotics offered to me?

The onset of meningococcal meningitis can be sudden, and early treatment is vital. Antibiotics offer quicker protection than vaccines for bacterial infections. It’s important to take the full course of antibiotics if offered to you.

For those who have not already been contacted, Professor Brendan Wren, Professor of Microbial Pathogenesis at LSHTM said: "I can understand people suddenly wanting the vaccine and there is no harm in getting it.

“However, antibiotics are the best option for those who fear they may have been exposed. Antibiotics start to work almost immediately, while immunity from the two-dose vaccine takes up to a month to build.”

How does the MenB vaccine work?

The vaccine works by training your immune system to recognise and attack the MenB bacteria, so that if you come into contact with it, your body can recognise it quickly and respond to prevent you from becoming seriously ill. 

You need two doses to be fully protected, and the second dose must be given at least four weeks after the first for the best protection. It can then take at least two weeks after the second dose for your body to produce enough antibodies to be well protected.

The MenB vaccine does not stop you transmitting the bacteria to others. 

The MenB vaccine is not a live vaccine. It contains small fragments (called antigens) of the most common MenB strains.

How long does protection from the MenB vaccine last?

There have been no major studies looking into the long-term protection of MenB vaccines in adolescents. Current evidence suggests that protection from the MenB vaccine lasts several years but it does not offer life-long protection.

I think I had a vaccine in school for meningitis, am I still protected?

There are numerous types of meningococcus bacteria. If you’re eligible for the MenB vaccine you should come forward to receive it, even if you have had the MenACWY vaccine.

The MenACWY vaccination is routinely offered to teenagers in school years 9 and 10 in the UK, and gives good protection against MenA, MenC, MenW, and MenY. However, this vaccine does not protect against MenB.

The MenB vaccine is currently only offered to babies and young children as part of their routine vaccinations. This was introduced in 2015.

Current higher education or university students are unlikely to be protected against MenB unless they’ve paid for a vaccine privately.

Professor Liz Miller, Professor in Vaccine Epidemiology, said: “The Men B vaccine works in a different way to the other meningococcal vaccine that protects against four different types of meningococcus (called A,C, W, Y). Men B vaccines only protects against certain types of MenB bacteria but fortunately the strain identified by the UKHSA within this outbreak is covered by the existing MenB vaccines.”

What is the difference between meningitis, meningococcal disease and MenB?

Meningitis is an infection of the membranes (meninges) and fluid that surround the brain, and can be caused by viral infections, bacterial infections or in rare occasions, fungi. 

Cases of bacterial meningitis are rare in the UK, with around 1.5 cases in every 100,000 people. There are many different types of bacteria that can cause infections that lead to bacterial meningitis.

One of the most common types of bacteria known to cause bacterial meningitis is Neisseria meningitidis, also known as meningococcus. Infections with meningococcus are often called meningococcal disease.

Meningococcal disease can be life-threatening and approximately 1 in 10 patients may die. The infection can lead to both meningitis (meningococcal meningitis) and septicaemia (blood poisoning). 

There are different types of meningococcus bacteria, such as: MenA, MenB, MenC, MenW, MenX and MenY.