Health Response

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Cases of meningitis in
Canterbury: information
for students and staff

We are working with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and NHS partners to provide support and guidance. Please read the information below carefully.

Vaccination FAQs

What the University is doing

Meningitis B antibiotics and vaccinations

Following advice from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), we can share that eligible students and members of staff at the University of Kent can receive the MenB vaccination.

See antibiotic and vaccination clinic opening times. 

Students and staff should take their University of Kent IDs to be able to get the vaccination.

For students that have already returned home you should contact your local GP on how you can receive antibiotics and the vaccine. See the UKHSA Expansion of Meningitis B vaccination offer to Kent Students information here.

MenB antibiotics and the vaccine are being made available to help protect students from becoming seriously unwell with meningitis, and to assist if you are exposed in the future.

This is part of our ongoing commitment to offer a swift response and reassurance to support Kent students at this difficult time.

Symptoms and what to do

Everyone should remain aware of the symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia and what to do. One or more of these symptoms may develop and they can appear in any order:

  • High temperature
  • Cold hands and feet
  • Vomiting or diarrhoea and stomach cramps
  • Drowsiness or difficult to wake
  • Confusion and/or irritability
  • Severe muscle pain
  • Pale blotchy skin, spots or rash
  • Severe headache
  • Stiff neck
  • Dislike of bright light
  • Convulsions or seizures.

If you or a friend develops symptoms of meningitis or septicaemia, particularly if symptoms are getting worse, seek medical help urgently at the closest Accident and Emergency Department or by dialling 999.

Latest updates on the UKHSA website

MenB Vaccination FAQs

An online booking system is in place so that you can book a second dose of the Men-B vaccination. Clinics and hubs have been set up in Canterbury, Faversham and Ashford, with slots available now for second dose vaccinations starting on Friday 17 April.

You can book your appointment slot now but please book for a date that is at least 28 days from your first vaccination.
Please read all the information on the booking site before booking your second dose of the MenB vaccination.

You can access the online booking system by using this link: https://bookings.kchft.patheks.uk/b/second-dose-meningitis

If you were eligible for a vaccine but had returned home outside of the UK when the initial offer was made, you are still able to get your first dose of the MenB vaccine until 8 May 2026.

Please book an appointment via the same online booking system, using the link above. You will be advised as to how to book your second dose nearer the time it is due.

It takes at least two weeks from your second dose of vaccine for your body to produce antibodies to give you a good level of protection.

To receive the MenB vaccine, please bring with you:

• Your university ID card
• The letter inviting to you get the vaccination

If you had your first dose of MenB vaccine at a private clinic or with your GP, we need to know which type of vaccine you had and when. Please bring either:
• A vaccination record card
• Your NHS App showing when your MenB vaccination was given
• A print-out or email from your GP practice, confirming what vaccination was given and when.

If you don’t have these, please come to your appointment anyway and speak to one of our clinicians.

It is common to get some swelling, redness or tenderness where you have the injection. You may also get a mild fever, nausea, headache or muscle aches but these symptoms should disappear after one or two days. More serious side effects are rare. You can take over the counter pain medication such as paracetamol to manage these symptoms if needed.

If you experience any suspected side effects to the vaccine, you can report these on
the Yellow Card website, by calling 0800 731 6789 (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday) or
by downloading the Yellow Card app

Please make every effort to attend your booked slot and arrive in plenty of time for it. However, if you miss your booked appointment, please make another one.  

MenB vaccination helps protect against most strains of Neisseria meningitidis group B (MenB) bacteria, which can cause meningitis (an infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord) and septicaemia (blood poisoning).

You need two doses of the vaccine for protection. The second dose must be given at least four weeks after the first dose, but can be given later. The vaccine is given by injection usually in the upper arm.
You can find more information about the vaccine here: 

A guide to the Meningococcal B
vaccine that protects against meningitis and septicaemia - GOV.UK

As shared previously, the MenB vaccine is being offered to students and staff who have been offered preventative antibiotic treatment as part of last month’s meningitis outbreak, including:

• close contacts of those who are confirmed or suspected to have meningococcal
disease
• students at the University of Kent who are normally resident on the Canterbury
Campus, including those who may have now travelled home. Some staff living or
working in these Halls of Residence have also been offered preventative antibiotics
and are eligible for vaccination
• students who attend other universities in Canterbury, living in halls of residence or off-campus locations where there has been a case, and have been advised to take an antibiotic due to a close contact by UKHSA
• anyone who visited or was working at Club Chemistry in Canterbury between 5 March and 15 March, when the venue closed voluntarily. 

There have been no further cases linked to the in the Kent outbreak for more than three
weeks.

The MenB vaccine is being made available to help protect students from becoming seriously unwell with meningitis if you are exposed in the future.

Further information about meningitis and details of who is eligible for the MenB vaccination as part of the outbreak response last month, is available from the Kent and Medway
Meningitis Outbreak Information Hub.

If you don’t have your University of Kent ID, you can log in to Kent Vision to download and print your council tax exemption letter or your module transcripts. Just take one of these along with another form of ID, such as your passport or driving licence.

No. Vaccination is not compulsory in England. 

However, the UKHSA strongly recommends this as the best way to protect yourself against MenB during this outbreak. 

Yes. The MenACWY vaccine does not protect against MenB, which is the strain involved in this outbreak.

General FAQs

Meningococcal meningitis is a serious but uncommon bacterial infection that causes inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord. It can also lead to sepsis (blood poisoning) and can be life-threatening if not treated quickly. There are multiple strains of meningococcal bacteria, MenA, MenB, MenC, MenW, MenX and MenY.

Symptoms can appear in any order and may include:

  • High temperature
  • Severe headache
  • Stiff neck
  • Vomiting or diarrhoea
  • Cold hands and feet
  • Pale or blotchy skin
  • Rash (including non-fading rash)
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Confusion or irritability
  • Drowsiness or difficulty waking
  • Seizures

Anyone who develops symptoms of meningitis or sepsis should seek medical attention urgently.

Transmission of  MenB requires close and prolonged contact to spread including living in the same household and intimate contact such as kissing or sharing drinks or vapes. The bacteria are not as contagious as other infections such as measles and COVID-19.    

Antibiotics play a crucial role in the response to this outbreak in 2 distinct ways. 

1. Preventative antibiotics (prophylaxis) are being offered to close contacts of confirmed cases as a precautionary measure to help limit further spread. This includes anyone who visited Club Chemistry between 5 - 15 March.  

2. Antibiotics given to treat an infection are used when someone has already become ill. For MenB, prompt treatment with antibiotics is critical - which is why seeking urgent medical help at the first sign of symptoms is so important. 

Advice on antibiotics has been issued to staff and students at the University of Kent, and antibiotics are available at distribution sites.

Preventative antibiotics (also known as prophylaxis) are being offered to all students living in on-campus accommodation at Canterbury, anyone who attended Club Chemistry in Canterbury, Kent between 5 - 15 March, and any individuals who have been in close contact with someone with confirmed or suspected meningitis.

If you have been offered preventative antibiotics, it is strongly advised that you take them as soon as possible.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has been contacting individuals who are known to have been in close contact with confirmed cases and advising them on the how to get antibiotics.

A helpline, run by UKHSA, is available. Patients can phone 0344 225 3861, Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, if they have no symptoms but are concerned they have been in contact with a confirmed case or have a general enquiry.

The NHS clinics at the University have now closed. Find NHS Kent and Medway antibiotic and vaccine clinics.

Seek medical help urgently: 

  • Contact NHS 111 for advice
  • Attend A&E
  • Call 999 in an emergency

If a friend is unwell, check on them regularly — symptoms can worsen quickly. 

The university recognises this is a distressing time and encourages students to contact:

You can also get more information from external charities such as:

Check your university email regularly.

Follow official university communications via the Student and Staff webpages.

Follow the University of Kent on social media @UniKentLive on Instagram. 

Monitor updates from public health authorities.

Follow these pages to get the latest updates for:

Further information