Meningitis Important Update

Tuesday, 17 March 2026

Please check your NHS App for your vaccination status. You can be vaccinated for Meningitis up until the age of 25. If you are not vaccinated and would like to be vaccinated please call your practice and we can book you in.

There has been a serious meningitis outbreak in the Canterbury area, with 13 confirmed cases and two young people sadly losing their lives. Because meningitis can make someone very unwell very quickly, we’re asking everyone to be aware of the symptoms.

Symptoms to look out for

  • High temperature
  • Being sick or feeling very sick
  • A bad headache that feels worse than usual
  • A stiff neck
  • Not liking bright lights
  • Feeling very sleepy, confused, or difficult to wake
  • A rash that doesn’t fade when a glass is pressed firmly on it
  • In babies: unusual crying, irritability, refusing feeds, or cold hands and feet

You can read the full NHS guidance here:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/meningitis/symptoms/

What to do

If you’re worried that someone might have meningitis, don’t wait.
Call 999 for an ambulance, or go straight to A&E.

Vaccines that help protect against meningitis

  • MenB vaccine given routinely at 8 weeks, 12 weeks and 1 year
  • 6‑in‑1 vaccine given routinely at 8, 12, 16 weeks and 18 months
  • Pneumococcal (PCV) vaccine given routinely  at 16 weeks and 1 year
  • MMRV vaccine  given routinely at 12 months and 18 months
  • MenACWY vaccine  given routinely at age 14, with catch‑up available up to age 25

Why these vaccines are routine for all children

All the vaccines listed above are part of the standard NHS childhood immunisation programme, meaning they are offered automatically to all children because they provide strong protection against the main causes of meningitis at the ages when children are most vulnerable. 

They work best when given on time, and together they help protect babies, children, teenagers and young adults from the most serious bacterial and viral infections linked to meningitis.

If you’re not sure whether you or your child are up to date with vaccines, you can check the NHS App or contact your GP practice and we can check your records for you.