Kent begins vaccine roll-out as meningitis cases spread

The University of Kent has begun a mass vaccine roll-out, with 5,000 students offered jabs to protect them against meningitis as staff described the “shock” and “anxiety” on campus following the rapid spread of the disease.

Confirmed cases of the illness, now established as the B strain of meningitis, have risen from 15 to 20, the UK government said, after two students, including one from the university, died over the weekend.

Long queues formed on Kent’s Canterbury campus on 18 March to receive the vaccine, which is being given to all students who live in halls of residence.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is contacting the close contacts of known cases and precautionary antibiotics are being offered to staff and students.

“We were all shocked and sad on hearing about the news on Sunday,” Balihar Sanghera, head of the School of Social Sciences at Kent, told Times Higher Education.

“But we have tried to stay calm and take appropriate actions to protect the well-being of students and staff and ensure students can complete their studies this term. [We’re] carrying on and staying calm in the face of uncertainty and anxiety.”

Exams that were scheduled to happen this week have moved online or been cancelled but the campus remains open to those who wish to use it.

A spokesperson for Kent said the vaccination drive was “part of our ongoing commitment to offer a swift response and reassurance to support Kent students at this difficult time”.

Alexander Hensby, senior lecturer in sociology at Kent, said it was “extremely fortunate” that most teaching for the term on campus had finished on 6 March, before the outbreak began.

“I was pleased to see that the university management moved swiftly and decisively to switch all in-person assessment online, while giving all coursework deadlines an automatic extension.

“Students I’ve been in touch with have been extremely grateful for these actions, given their understandable stresses and concerns right now.”

Meanwhile a case at neighbouring Canterbury Christ Church University has been confirmed, linked to the same outbreak that originated in a Canterbury nightclub.

Staff at this university told Times Higher Education that concerns have been raised over whether in-person teaching should still be going ahead.

But officials have stressed that the risk of transmission is low and the advice of the UKHSA was that normal planned activities can continue on campus including teaching, placements and research activities.

The outbreak comes as students prepare to travel home for the Easter holidays and experts stressed that it was safe for them to do so.

Simon Clarke, associate professor of cellular microbiology at the University of Reading, noted that meningitis is “not as easily transmissible as some other respiratory viruses, such as flu or Covid-19”.

Instead, it is spread through coughing, sneezing, kissing or sharing cups or vapes.

“While students in Kent should follow specific advice, there is no reason for students in the affected area who are well to avoid travelling home for Easter.

“If students feel unwell, they should seek medical advice immediately, and avoid making close contact with others, particularly more vulnerable people such as young children or people with underlying illnesses which can affect their resilience to disease. 

“However, MenB does not spread easily through casual contact, and the measures already in place are designed to contain localised outbreaks.”