Wes Streeting announces ‘targeted’ vaccine rollout for Canterbury students
The Health Secretary has announced a small targeted vaccine rollout in the wake of the “unprecedented” meningitis outbreak in Kent.
The immunisation programme will target students living in University of Kent halls of residence in Canterbury to protect them from contracting meningitis B, Wes Streeting confirmed in the House of Commons today.
The rollout will commence across the next couple of days, with the Labour minister saying the majority of pupils would not be vaccinated against the infection already.
The MP said: “From 2015 the menB vaccine has been available on the NHS as part of routine childhood immunisations, but clearly mostly students would not be vaccinated.
“Given the severity of the situation, I can confirm to the House that we will begin a targeted vaccination programme for students living in halls of residence at the University of Kent in Canterbury, which will begin in the coming days.”
The Health Secretary told MPs he will request the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation to reassess elibility for meningitis vaccines.
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