School immunisation services and pharmacies are reporting surging demand for routine vaccinations after the Kent meningitis outbreak in which two teenagers died.
Thousands of teenagers across England have booked or received jabs in past fortnight against the A, C, W and Y strains of meningitis (MenACWY), and diphtheria, polio and tetanus (Td/IPV).
Experts said the increase in immunisation wwas a small silver lining to the meningitis B outbreak, which has also left 18 people in hospital. Latest figures show that only 72% of year-nine pupils received the MenACWY or booster Td/IPV inoculations in the the 2024/25 academic year, well below the recommended 95%.
The Royal College of GPs (RCGP) and the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) have reported burgeoning demand for routine year-nine inoculations across England.
The NPA…