Meningitis B outbreak - Frequently Asked Questions
Detail as of 18th March 2026
Do I need to be concerned for myself or my family?
Most likely not.
Unless you have had close contact with someone involved in the current outbreak in the Canterbury area, your risk remains very low. Meningitis B does not spread easily—it typically requires close and prolonged contact with someone carrying the bacteria (who may not be obviously unwell).
UK Health Security Agency are actively managing the situation. If you were at increased risk, you would usually be contacted directly.
Will I have been vaccinated?
The meningitis B vaccine (Bexsero) was included in the childhood immunisation schedule in 2015, so babies born and vaccinated in the UK from then onwards will most likely have been jabbed. Anyone born before that will probably not have been vaccinated.
Do I need to be vaccinated?
For most people, there is no urgency.
Meningitis B remains a very rare infection. The NHS has not introduced a widespread catch-up programme for older children and adults because, at a population level, the cost–benefit balance does not justify it.
That said, some people choose vaccination for additional reassurance, particularly in the context of local outbreaks.
Tell me about the meningitis B vaccine?
Bexsero is a safe and generally well-tolerated vaccine for both adults and children.
Common side effect: short-lived fever (especially in younger children)
Other effects: sore arm, mild flu-like symptoms
At Lisle Medical:
£140 per dose
£45 appointment fee
Two doses required, at least 4 weeks apart
Where can I get the meningitis B vaccine (Bexsero) privately near Haslemere/Chichester?
There is currently a UK-wide shortage of Bexsero, and most private supply chains have temporarily run dry.
We expect availability to return in the coming days to weeks, but in the short term, stock is likely being prioritised for higher-risk groups as part of the public health response — particularly in Kent.
If you would like to be notified when we have supply please register your details at this link (not necessary for existing patients) and send us a message so we can add you to the list.
How good is the vaccine?
Bexsero appears to cut the risk of meningitis B disease by about three-quarters, but it is not 100% protective.
What is meningitis B? What are the symptoms of meningitis to look out for?
It’s rare but potentially serious, the well-known one with the rash that doesn’t blanche on pressing a glass on it. A temperature, stiff neck and a change in mental state (confusion, drowsiness) are the classic things to look out for, a rash is not necessarily always present as it can be a later sign. Generalised aches and pains, pain on looking at lights and a severe headache are also possibilities. While these symptoms should prompt a review by a doctor it should be remembered that there are many much more common reasons for getting these symptoms.
Who is most at risk?
Babies because they’re vulnerable to all infections (but most are vaccinated so that’s helpful to protect them), teenagers/students and those who are more likely to be in close physical contact with those infected.