Update: Meningitis Outbreak in Kent 20.3.26

Dear Colleagues,

 

Meningitis Outbreak in Kent

 

Thank you for your continued support regarding the situation in Kent with the recent meningitis outbreak and related deaths. We recognise practices are receiving many queries and hope the communications shared with you so far have helped to manage these concerns.

 

We have received further details of how the MenB vaccine will be managed in General Practice and the reimbursements available.  Attached is a copy of the NHSE letter received last night outlining the position.

 

We hope the following summary of actions will be helpful to practices:

 

  1. Prescribing of prophylactic antibiotics:

 

The ICB recognises that there is no SFE provision for the delivery of recommended prophylactic antibiotics. As a result, we have agreed to amend the existing Surrey Influenza Outbreak LCS to cover patients who present to practices and require prophylactic antibiotics. Please record the following SNOMED code in relevant consultations to enable future searches and claims to the ICB (Administration of prophylactic antibiotic for meningococcus 170450005).

 

Before issuing prophylactic antibiotics to an individual, it is recommended that the patient contacts UKHSA via a dedicated number 0344 225 3861 (Open 9am-5pm) to confirm eligibility.

 

  1. Core vaccine & provision required of General Practice:

 

NHS England has also confirmed that GP practices will be able to claim an IoS fee of £10.06 for each MenB vaccine administered after 19 March 2026 to identified eligible patients as part of the outbreak response. To claim for any vaccines you have administered, this will need to be done manually via CQRS. 

 

The ability to respond to these requests should be in place in general practice by no later than Monday 23 March 2026.

Providing MenACWY vaccinations opportunistically to the routine eligible patients (aged 14 – 24) is part of essential services and does not attract addition Item of Service (IoS) fees. Equally, catch up clinics are available through HCRG: » Surrey School Immunisation Team Community Clinic.

 

  1. Eligible Cohorts

 

Everyone who has been offered preventative antibiotic treatment as part of this outbreak will be entitled to receive a MenB vaccine. Those eligible patients are:

 

  1. 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 antibiotic prophylaxis.
  2. Students in relevant halls of residence or other private dwellings who attend other universities in Canterbury and have been advised to take an antibiotic due to a close contact.
  3. Individuals who attended Club Chemistry from 5 March until it closed voluntarily on March 16.

 

Noting that sixth form or other year groups and education settings in Kent where there are confirmed or probable cases are also eligible and have been notified by schools or UKHSA. Local arrangements are in place to offer vaccination to this group.

(Please note that this list is subject to change as the position continues to be monitored)

 

  1. Communication to patients

 

Within the NHSE letter, there are some links to information which your patients may find helpful. Please do use the tools provided to share information within your practice or via social media platforms. We will continue to update Surrey practice websites automatically with the above public facing information. (We would expect those practices not using Livi websites to utilised the information shared within communications to update their patients.)

 

We recognise that practices may receive a high volume of enquiries from concerned patients. However, the eligibility criteria for the MenB outbreak programme has been agreed nationally to ensure support is focused on patients with the most immediate clinical needs. 

 

Thank you for all your work on this. We will continue to share any further updates. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact the Primary Care Team.

 

Kind Regards

 

Surrey Heartlands Primary Care Team  

Attachment

Update: Meningitis Outbreak in Kent

PDF, 150.1 KB

Published on 20 March 2026