Young people starting university in the UK this autumn are to be offered the meningitis B vaccine, ministers have announced, in the wake of a fatal outbreak of the disease in Kent.
Those under 25 starting degrees will be offered a two-dose vaccination from July onwards, with all Year 13 pupils also covered, regardless of their educational plans, plus under-25s planning to start residential further education courses.
The one-off programme was announced by England’s Department of Health and Social Care alongside devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
It comes after an outbreak affecting 21 young people in Kent in March this year, which left two dead, including an undergraduate at the University of Kent.
Ministers said that the Kent outbreak was the fastest growing and largest ever seen in the UK. In addition, there have been more clusters than normal this year, some of which have been bigger than expected. Reading and Surrey universities have both also been impacted by outbreaks this year.
