Meningitis outbreak drives surge in routine vaccinations across England as health officials respond to rising infection cases
TOI GLOBAL DESK | TOI GLOBAL | Mar 27, 2026, 23:04 IST
Meningitis Outbreak Drives Surge in Routine Vaccinations Across England
In the wake of a meningitis outbreak, there has been a notable increase in routine vaccinations throughout England. Concerned parents are proactively ensuring their children receive necessary immunizations, particularly the MenACWY vaccine. Local schools and pharmacies have reported a significant rise in appointment bookings, indicating a strong community commitment to safeguarding children's health from severe illnesses.
Surging demand for routine vaccinations across England, including the MenACWY jab, has been reported by school immunisation services and pharmacies following a meningitis B outbreak in Kent that resulted in two teenage deaths and 18 hospitalizations. This increase in uptake is seen as an encouraging consequence, with parental consents rising significantly in areas like Greater Manchester and Hertfordshire, and experts noting a renewed focus on vaccine records among parents.
The recent meningitis outbreak has shocked us all, but it’s reassuring that we are seeing more families take up routine vaccinations for their children. General practice teams and school immunisation services are already seeing increased interest and inquiries in some areas, and are working hard to ensure all eligible children can access these vaccines.
Thousands of teenagers have booked or received jabs for the A, C, W and Y strains of meningitis (MenACWY), and diphtheria, polio and tetanus (Td/IPV) in the past fortnight. This surge comes as figures show that only 72% of year 9 pupils received the MenACWY or booster Td/IPV inoculations in the 2024-25 academic year, falling below the recommended 95%.
The Royal College of GPs (RCGP) and the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) have both reported a significant increase in demand for routine year 9 inoculations. Olivier Picard, chair of the NPA, stated that while much of this demand has been for MenB vaccinations, there has also been a substantial uptick for MenACWY among teenagers who missed their initial NHS vaccine.
“An unintentional but encouraging consequence of this outbreak is that more patients and their parents are looking into their vaccine records to catch up on those that they have missed.”
Areas experiencing increased demand for routine year 9 jabs include Hertfordshire, counties across the east of England, Greater Manchester, Berkshire, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, Wiltshire, and Surrey. Hertfordshire Community NHS trust reported that 1,750 teenagers received routine vaccinations on March 21 and 22 alone.
The trust’s assistant director of child health and immunisations, Caroline Shepherd, noted that their community and school-aged immunisation service received over 2,000 calls from east of England residents seeking advice on vaccination due to concerns about the recent meningitis cases in Kent.
NHS Greater Manchester reported a 40% increase in parental consents received by its school immunisation provider, Intrahealth, compared to an average week. Anecdotal evidence also suggests more young people are contacting GPs to check their vaccination status or arrange catch-up vaccines.
Berkshire Healthcare NHS foundation trust observed a noticeable rise in demand for its adolescent vaccination programme between March 16 and 18, answering over 780 phone calls, significantly above its usual weekly average of 150, and sending more than 1,200 emails. Parental consent for routine teenage immunisation in Berkshire increased from 90% to just under 92%.
“Demand for vaccination appointments has also increased, with 560 bookings now confirmed for upcoming clinics,” a spokesperson for Berkshire Healthcare NHS foundation trust said.
The trust’s lead nurse for immunisations, Charlotte Church, commented on the impact of the outbreak.
“The recent meningitis outbreak has reminded many parents of the vital role routine immunisations play in protecting children from vaccine-preventable diseases. We’ve seen a clear rise in parents coming forward to ensure their children are fully vaccinated, particularly for the year 9 meningitis ACWY vaccine, alongside the fifth and final dose protecting against tetanus, diphtheria and polio.”
The HRCG Care Group, which provides school vaccinations in Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, Wiltshire, and Surrey, has also reported higher demand for routine jabs.
Professor Saul Faust, a professor of paediatric immunology and infectious diseases at the University of Southampton, reflected on the situation.
“These data remind us that part of the reason for lack of uptake of vaccines overall is that people have forgotten just how serious vaccine-preventable diseases can be due to the overall success of the programme. It is sad that it has taken a serious outbreak to remind people how important all vaccines are to infant, child and teenage health, but great that rates are improving. Our challenge now is to work out how to maintain higher rates without the diseases coming back.”
Michelle Kane, NHS England’s director of vaccination, expressed encouragement at the response.
“It’s encouraging that parents are responding to the outbreak by coming forward and seeking advice on vaccination for their teenagers in some areas. While we don’t want people to be unduly worried, we’d strongly encourage all families to consent for their children to have the NHS MenACWY vaccine in year nine, which protects against four types of bacteria that can cause meningitis and sepsis and to come forward when invited for other jabs offering vital protection.”
Secretary of state for health and social care Wes Streeting acknowledged the tragic consequences of the outbreak.
“Meningitis can be deadly as we have so tragically seen during the outbreak in Canterbury and my thoughts remain with the friends and families of the two people who died. Almost 11,000 meningitis B vaccines have been provided in Canterbury following the outbreak and I am glad parents are doing all they can to take up the offer of a MenACWY vaccine for those pupils in year 9. For too long we have seen a decline in vaccination rates and I hope more people heed the warnings from the victims of meningitis and would urge everyone to get their children protected from serious diseases.”
The recent meningitis outbreak has shocked us all, but it’s reassuring that we are seeing more families take up routine vaccinations for their children. General practice teams and school immunisation services are already seeing increased interest and inquiries in some areas, and are working hard to ensure all eligible children can access these vaccines.
Thousands of teenagers have booked or received jabs for the A, C, W and Y strains of meningitis (MenACWY), and diphtheria, polio and tetanus (Td/IPV) in the past fortnight. This surge comes as figures show that only 72% of year 9 pupils received the MenACWY or booster Td/IPV inoculations in the 2024-25 academic year, falling below the recommended 95%.
The Royal College of GPs (RCGP) and the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) have both reported a significant increase in demand for routine year 9 inoculations. Olivier Picard, chair of the NPA, stated that while much of this demand has been for MenB vaccinations, there has also been a substantial uptick for MenACWY among teenagers who missed their initial NHS vaccine.
“An unintentional but encouraging consequence of this outbreak is that more patients and their parents are looking into their vaccine records to catch up on those that they have missed.”
Areas experiencing increased demand for routine year 9 jabs include Hertfordshire, counties across the east of England, Greater Manchester, Berkshire, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, Wiltshire, and Surrey. Hertfordshire Community NHS trust reported that 1,750 teenagers received routine vaccinations on March 21 and 22 alone.
The trust’s assistant director of child health and immunisations, Caroline Shepherd, noted that their community and school-aged immunisation service received over 2,000 calls from east of England residents seeking advice on vaccination due to concerns about the recent meningitis cases in Kent.
NHS Greater Manchester reported a 40% increase in parental consents received by its school immunisation provider, Intrahealth, compared to an average week. Anecdotal evidence also suggests more young people are contacting GPs to check their vaccination status or arrange catch-up vaccines.
Berkshire Healthcare NHS foundation trust observed a noticeable rise in demand for its adolescent vaccination programme between March 16 and 18, answering over 780 phone calls, significantly above its usual weekly average of 150, and sending more than 1,200 emails. Parental consent for routine teenage immunisation in Berkshire increased from 90% to just under 92%.
“Demand for vaccination appointments has also increased, with 560 bookings now confirmed for upcoming clinics,” a spokesperson for Berkshire Healthcare NHS foundation trust said.
The trust’s lead nurse for immunisations, Charlotte Church, commented on the impact of the outbreak.
“The recent meningitis outbreak has reminded many parents of the vital role routine immunisations play in protecting children from vaccine-preventable diseases. We’ve seen a clear rise in parents coming forward to ensure their children are fully vaccinated, particularly for the year 9 meningitis ACWY vaccine, alongside the fifth and final dose protecting against tetanus, diphtheria and polio.”
The HRCG Care Group, which provides school vaccinations in Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, Wiltshire, and Surrey, has also reported higher demand for routine jabs.
Professor Saul Faust, a professor of paediatric immunology and infectious diseases at the University of Southampton, reflected on the situation.
“These data remind us that part of the reason for lack of uptake of vaccines overall is that people have forgotten just how serious vaccine-preventable diseases can be due to the overall success of the programme. It is sad that it has taken a serious outbreak to remind people how important all vaccines are to infant, child and teenage health, but great that rates are improving. Our challenge now is to work out how to maintain higher rates without the diseases coming back.”
Michelle Kane, NHS England’s director of vaccination, expressed encouragement at the response.
“It’s encouraging that parents are responding to the outbreak by coming forward and seeking advice on vaccination for their teenagers in some areas. While we don’t want people to be unduly worried, we’d strongly encourage all families to consent for their children to have the NHS MenACWY vaccine in year nine, which protects against four types of bacteria that can cause meningitis and sepsis and to come forward when invited for other jabs offering vital protection.”
Secretary of state for health and social care Wes Streeting acknowledged the tragic consequences of the outbreak.
“Meningitis can be deadly as we have so tragically seen during the outbreak in Canterbury and my thoughts remain with the friends and families of the two people who died. Almost 11,000 meningitis B vaccines have been provided in Canterbury following the outbreak and I am glad parents are doing all they can to take up the offer of a MenACWY vaccine for those pupils in year 9. For too long we have seen a decline in vaccination rates and I hope more people heed the warnings from the victims of meningitis and would urge everyone to get their children protected from serious diseases.”