Pharmacies across the United Kingdom are struggling to keep up with an unprecedented surge in demand for meningitis vaccines after a deadly outbreak in Kent left two young people dead and at least 13 others hospitalized.
The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) reported on Tuesday that 87 per cent of pharmacies surveyed have seen considerable rises in vaccination requests that far exceed available supply from wholesalers.
Many pharmacies said they are unable to order new stock, with some receiving 30 to 40 booking requests in a single morning, far beyond the handful they would normally handle in an entire year as part of routine travel vaccination services, according to The Guardian.
Superdrug reported that bookings at its nurse clinics for meningitis vaccinations surged to 65 times the level seen the previous week. At Boots, no appointments were available at its Canterbury store as of Tuesday morning, though slots remained open in major cities like London. Superdrug offers the meningitis B vaccine at £110 ($147) per dose, while Boots charges £220 ($294) for a two-dose course.
Oliver Picard, chairman of the NPA, said: "Pharmacies are getting unprecedented levels of requests for meningitis vaccinations, and many are unable to order in supplies from wholesalers. We urge patients to be courteous and understanding towards their pharmacy teams, who are doing their best to manage very constrained stock levels."
Superdrug acknowledged the shortage on its website, stating there is a "national shortage of the Meningitis B Vaccination" and that it is working with suppliers to secure further stock.
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The supply strain follows a fast-moving outbreak of invasive meningococcal disease in the Canterbury area. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed 15 cases since Mar. 13, with four confirmed as meningitis B.
Two people have died: a 21-year-old University of Kent student and an 18-year-old sixth form pupil at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School in Faversham, Sky News reported.
Investigations linked several cases to Club Chemistry, a nightclub in Canterbury, where some of those affected visited between Mar. 5 and 7. Hundreds who attended during that period were urged to come forward for preventative antibiotics, and around 700 doses have been distributed.
In response, the UKHSA announced a targeted vaccination programme starting with students in halls of residence at the University of Kent's Canterbury campus. Health Secretary Wes Streeting also asked advisors to re-evaluate eligibility criteria for meningitis vaccinations more broadly.
Experts noted that while infants have been routinely vaccinated against meningitis B since 2015, older teenagers and university-age students missed out because the vaccine was not part of the childhood schedule when they were born. The MenACWY vaccine currently offered to teenagers does not protect against the B strain behind this outbreak.
The UKHSA said there is no evidence of wider spread beyond Kent, but urged parents to ensure children are fully up to date with available vaccinations, as per the Independent.
