Antibiotic and vaccine clinics

The MenB vaccine is being offered to people who were 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 Kent outbreak for more than three weeks. 

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

The MenB vaccination is a two-dose course, with two doses of the vaccine needed for the best, long-lasting protection. 

You should book the appointment for your second dose of the Men-B vaccination now via the online booking system. 

Please book in for a date that is at least four weeks (28 days) from when you had your first vaccination. 

Please use the Bookings Portal link to access the online booking system.  

If you had your first vaccination following the Kent meningitis outbreak last month, you can book your second vaccination via the online booking system now. 

When booking a second dose, you should book an appointment which is at least four weeks (28 days) from your first dose. 

Appointments are available on dates starting from Friday, 17 April 2026 at multiple locations across Canterbury, Faversham, Ashford and Margate. 

Please book just one appointment. 

Please use the Bookings Portal link to access the online booking system.  

Children and young people in school years 11,12 and 13 from affected schools in the outbreak will be offered the second vaccination at their school, week commencing 27 April.

If, for any reason, a pupil is not able to make a vaccination clinic day at their school, second dose vaccinations can be booked via the online booking platform.

Students from other schools are not eligible for the vaccination, unless they have already received a first vaccination and need to complete the course of two doses.

Vaccinations in England are not compulsory. Vaccination against MenB is the best option of offering protection to you in response to the current outbreak, therefore it is strongly recommended that students take up this offer.

If you are eligible for a vaccine and had your first dose privately, the NHS can give you your second vaccination, however this must be the same type of vaccine. 

There are two different MenB vaccines, Bexsero and Trumenba. The NHS is offering Bexsero. 

If you had Trumenba for your first vaccination, you need to return to your private provider for your second dose. Please do not book online for an NHS vaccination.  

If you had Bexsero for your first vaccination, please use the online booking system to book your second vaccination.  

You will be asked to bring proof of first vaccine with you to your appointment. 

To receive the MenB vaccine, please bring with you:

• your university ID card
• this letter inviting to you get the vaccination.

For those who received their first dose of MenB vaccination at an off-campus location, please also bring proof that you were given that first dose (if you have this). This could include:

• a vaccination record card - which might look like the picture on the right
• a record on your NHS App showing when your MenB vaccination was given
• a print-out or email from your local GP practice confirming what vaccination was administered, and when.

If you do not have any proof of your first vaccination, please book an appointment slot for your second vaccination and speak to the clinician on the day.

Although the vaccination itself takes only a few seconds, we first need to make sure we have up-to-date information about you, that you understand the vaccine you are getting and that you are feeling fit and well. 

This check will take around five minutes and you can also ask any questions you may have

You will be asked to wait for 15 minutes after your vaccination. 

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 1 or 2 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.

Yes, you do. The MenACWY vaccine protects against strains A, C, W, Y but does not protect against this strain of MenB.

This is why you are strongly recommended to have the MenB vaccine.

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.

There may be a short wait. We expect some days and times to busier than others. To help keep waits as short as possible, please arrive in your allocated time slot.

Please don't bring anyone with you, unless you need extra support.  

Let someone in the Vaccination Team know if you need any additional support on the day, they are always happy to help.