Vaccine rollout to students on Canterbury campus gets underway
It will be offered to thousands of students
Last updated 20th Mar 2026
The rollout of a meningitis B vaccine to about 5,000 students from a Canterbury campus has begun, the University of Kent has said.
In partnership with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the university is rolling out vaccines from Wednesday to protect students and is continuing to offer thousands of doses of antibiotics to students and staff.
It comes after two students died and 18 more cases were being investigated by the UKHSA after an outbreak of meningitis linked to a nightclub.
The university said in a statement the jab rollout was “part of our ongoing commitment to offer a swift response and reassurance to support Kent students at this difficult time”.
It remains unclear how students who have already left campus will get a vaccine, though it is understood they should be able to get one through their GP practice.
At the university, the sports hall has at least 15 single tables for the first wave of meningitis vaccinations.
Nurses with plastic aprons and face masks were gathered waiting for students and staff to arrive at Sports Hall 2 on the Canterbury campus.
Five new cases of meningitis have now been reported in Kent, taking the total number being investigated by health officials to 20.
Of these, nine cases have been confirmed in the lab and 11 remain under investigation.
Six of the confirmed cases have been confirmed as the meningitis B strain.
GPs across the country have now been told to prescribe antibiotics to anyone who visited Club Chemistry in Canterbury from March 5-7, plus students from the University of Kent.
This is to ensure anyone who has left campus can make sure they get the right treatment.
The UKHSA said: “This is a rapidly evolving situation and there may be further cases as those with symptoms are encouraged to seek medical advice.
“Antibiotics remain the most effective treatment to limit the spread of invasive meningococcal disease.
“So far, over 2,500 doses have been given to students, close contacts and others, including some of those who attended Club Chemistry between March 5-7.
“GPs across the country will today be advised to prescribe antibiotics to anyone who visited Club Chemistry between March 5-7 and to University of Kent students, if they have been asked to seek preventative treatment.
“This is so that anyone who has travelled home, or away from Kent, can easily access this important preventative treatment close to them.”
Two students have died during the outbreak, including 18-year-old Juliette, who was studying for her A-levels.
The number of cases is expected to rise because the incubation period for the infection to when symptoms appear is two to 14 days.
The outbreak is being viewed by experts as unprecedented owing to the high number of cases appearing in such a short space of time.
The UKHSA stressed there is plenty of NHS stocks of menB vaccines after pharmacies reported they were struggling to obtain stock for people who want to pay privately.
At Prime Minister’s Questions Sir Keir Starmer expressed his condolences.
He said: “Our deepest condolences are with the families and friends of the two young people who have died following the outbreak of meningitis B in Kent. Others are seriously ill. This will be a deeply difficult time for their loved ones.”