PHARMACISTS are facing a shortage of meningitis jabs amid an “unprecedented” surge in demand, health leaders warned today.
Two students have tragically died with 13 others hospitalised with meningitis following an “invasive” outbreak of the disease in Kent.
French authorities have also alerted the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to a confirmed case of meningitis in France, who had attended the University of Kent.
The UKHSA has already said that some cases seen in Kent are MenB, with others confirmed “when we have the full results”.
But, most people above primary school age are unprotected against MenB because routine jabs for babies were only introduced in 2015.
Instead, the MenB jab is available privately at high street and supermarket pharmacies for roughly £150 per dose.
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However, many have already reported running out of stock and have said they are unable to order more from wholesalers.
Superdrug have also said that demand from private jabs has surged 65-fold.
Despite this, health secretary Wes Streeting today shot down fears of a shortage telling the House of Commons that “we have a significant stockpile.”
According to a survey conducted by the National Pharmacy Association, 87 per cent of chemists had seen a surge in demand for vaccines from worried parents.
NPA chair Oliver Picard said: “Pharmacies are getting unprecedented levels of requests for meningitis vaccinations.
“We understand many patients, including parents with older teenagers, will be concerned by this situation and will be keen to vaccinate themselves or their loved ones.
“However, pharmacies are having to manage constrained levels of supply and many have told us they cannot order in new stock.”
Dr Leyla Hannbeck, CEO of Independent Pharmacies Association, also said: “Pharmacies, especially in Kent, but also across south of England are seeing a surge in demand for private Meningitis B vaccinations.
“But supplies are running low with some pharmacies already out of stock.
“Worried families must not be left to a lottery.
“The NHS needs to step in and commission a national pharmacy led catch-up programme now and ensure stock is available to meet the demand”.
The MenB vaccine is given to babies at eight weeks, 12 weeks and a year old.
The MenACWY vaccine helps protect against the A, C, W and Y strains and is given to 14-year-olds, or as a catch-up jab to people 25 and under who missed it.
Mr Picard added: “We urge patients to be courteous and understanding towards their pharmacy teams, who are doing their best to manage very constrained stock levels.”
Earlier today, health secretary Wes Streeting confirmed in the Commons that he had asked the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) to look again at who should receive the MenB vaccine.
A targeted vaccine programme will begin in Kent this week to try and stop the current outbreak before students head home for Easter holidays next week, he said.
He also said: “We have a significant stockpile. We are not advising people to pay for a vaccine.
“If it is decided that any vaccination is required, that will be offered on the NHS.”
The Health Secretary also warned young people against snogging or sharing drinks and vapes while the outbreak is ongoing.
Alex Williams, executive director of the Healthcare Distribution Association (HDA), which represents UK medicines suppliers, also told Sun Health: “The HDA and its members continue to work with supply chain partners including Government to ensure that appropriate levels of antibiotics and Meningitis B vaccinations are supplied to where they are needed.
“Although demand has undoubtedly increased, with HDA members working through specific localised demand increases, they do not expect to experience short-term availability issues if Government guidance continues to be followed.”
Currently, two students are known to have tragically died, while 13 remain in hospital with the illness following the outbreak in Kent.
One victim was Juliette Kenny, an 18-year-old sixth form student at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School in Faversham who died on Saturday.
The UKHSA is now working to curb the spread, tracing and treating thousands of potential contacts as reports of suspected cases spread.
The operation was launched at the University of Kent on Sunday after the UKHSA was alerted to a “cluster of cases” in the area on Saturday night.
Investigations are focused on popular venue Club Chemistry – a three-storey self-described “super club” – in Canterbury.
More than 2,000 revellers are said to have visited the venue across the weekend linked to the outbreak.
Health bosses have urged anyone who went to the club on March 5, 6 or 7 to get “preventative antibiotic treatment as a precautionary measure”.
Sixth form, college and university students are also one of the highest risk groups because of their active social lives and close living quarters.
Why is meningitis B considered the most dangerous strain?
There are five main strains that cause the disease in the UK. But MenB is widely considered the most dangerous.
Health officials have said that at least some cases of meningitis seen in Kent have been confirmed as meningitis B.
Other strains include MenA, MenC, MenW and MenY, which are also caused by bacteria.
MenB is now the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in the UK, accounting for more than 80 per cent of invasive cases.
It is caused by Neisseria meningitidis group B bacteria and infects the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, which can trigger life-threatening blood poisoning and brain inflammation.
The illness often develops suddenly, and early diagnosis is critical.
Dr Eliza Gil, a clinical lecturer at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said Neisseria meningitidis “can cause very aggressive infections”.
Professor Paul Hunter, an infectious diseases expert at the University of East Anglia, added: “The most important thing any friend or parent can do is realise the person may have this infection and seek medical help.
“Early treatment is vital, but diagnosis in the early hours of the illness can be very difficult.
“Early symptoms can be very mild but then deterioration can be extremely rapid leading to death within a few hours.
“Some of the warning signs include high fever, neck pain and stiffness, the light hurts their eyes, confusion and drowsiness and a particular skin rash that doesn’t blanch if a glass is pressed onto the skin.”