Following the outbreak of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) in the South East, advice, guidance and resources are available for GP practices across north central London. 

More recently, UKHSA is working with Dorset Council, the NHS and local partners following three confirmed cases of meningococcal B infection (meningitis) in young people in Weymouth, Dorset. 

You can find further information on these cases and the measures being taken in this press release and blog. 

UKHSA has updated its communications resource document which was produced for the outbreak in Kent and continue to be updated as the situation in Weymouth develops. 

An FAQ for education settings has also been updated.

Refer to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) alert which outlines the recommended courses of action to manage cases with infection and contacts.

Key points from UKHSA on prevention and protection

Vaccination advice

Eligible individuals are being offered Meningitis B vaccination (Bexsero). General practice should provide vaccination, on request for any eligible person who has returned home and is unable to access university-based clinics. 

Eligibility includes: 

• students normally resident on the University of Kent Canterbury campus (including those now at home).
• students in relevant halls/private dwellings at other Canterbury universities who were advised to take prophylactic antibiotics.
• individuals who attended Club Chemistry between 5-16 March.
• relevant sixth form/year group contacts identified by schools/UKHSA.

All those offered antibiotic prophylaxis as part of the outbreak response are now eligible for vaccination. 

• Bexsero is a two dose vaccine, 28 days apart
• practices can claim £10.06 per dose, with studen finance England amendments applied retrospectively
• vaccinations are covered by the Clinical Negligence Scheme for General Practice
• vaccine supply is available on ImmForm, and practices should order as needed
• manual payments must be claimed through Calulating Quality Reporting Service.

There are no additional vaccination recommendations beyond the routine NHS schedule. Usual vaccination pathways should continue, and uptake should be encouraged.

Vaccines that help protect against causes of meningitis and septicaemia:

• MenB: 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 1 year
• 6-in-1: 8, 12, 16 weeks
• Pneumococcal: 16 weeks, 1 year, single dose at 65+
• Hib/MenC: 1 year (if born on or before 30 June 2024)
• MMR: 1 year and 18 months
• MenACWY: 13-14 years.

MenB and MenACWY are separate vaccines

• MenB was added to the infant schedule in 2015.
• Teenagers and young adults born before 1 May 2015 will not have received MenB as part of routine NHS vaccination.

Missed vaccines

• Children can receive missed MenB doses free of charge before age 2. MMR/MMRV can be given at any age.
• Teenagers and students (including international students) can access free catch up MenACWY and MMR through their GP.
• There is no NHS MenB catch up for those born before 1 May 2015.

Private MenB vaccination

Available through private providers for those over 2 years, the course is 2 doses.

Immediate case management

Patients with IMD may present with septicaemia and/or meningitis. Meningococcal sepsis should be considered in a rapidly deteriorating patient with sepsis even in the absence of a non-blanching rash, which is usually a late sign. Clinicians should have a high index of suspicion where a young person aged 16 to 30 attends with consistent signs or symptoms.

In a community setting, rapid admission to hospital is the highest priority when IMD is suspected. Transporting to hospital should not be delayed in order to get or give antibiotics.

Initial treatment recommendations are as follows (full treatment regimens will be commenced during hospital admission):

Immediate single dose of IV/IM ceftriaxone for suspected meningococcal infections (Ceftriaxone, Drugs, BNFC, NICE):

Age/weight	Dose
adults	dose 2g stat
children with body weight 50kg and over or aged 9 years and older	dose 2g stat
children up to 50kg body weight or aged under 9 years	dose 80 to 100mg/kg (maximum per dose 4g)

 

Alternatively, immediate single dose of IV/IM benzylpenicillin sodium for suspected meningococcal infections where it is not possible to administer ceftriaxone (Benzylpenicillin sodium, Drugs, BNF, NICE):

 

Age	Dose
adults and children aged 10 years or over	dose of 1.2g
children aged 1 to 9 years	dose 600mg
children aged under 1 year	dose 300mg

 

 

 

 

Notifying UKHSA

All suspected cases of invasive meningococcal disease are statutorily notifiable by registered medical practitioners to the responsible UKHSA health protection team, without waiting for laboratory confirmation.

Notify UKHSA by contacting your health protection team.

Eligible contacts

If eligible contacts present and have not received prophylaxis, prescribe ciprofloxacin as per national guidance:

• adults/children ≥12 years: 500mg stat 
• children 5-11 years: 250mg stat 
• children 1-4 years: 125mg stat 
• infants <1 year: 30mg/kg (max 125mg stat, off-label use).

If ciprofloxacin is unsuitable, refer to national guidance for alternatives.  

Resources

MenB does not protect against all strains, so awareness of symptoms remains essential. UKHSA and NHS informational resources (including co-badged materials with Meningitis Now) are available to download to support conversations with patients.

---

This item was updated on 21 April 2026 to highlight UKHSA working with Dorset Council, the NHS and local partners following three confirmed cases of meningococcal B infection (meningitis) in young people in Weymouth, Dorset.

This item was updated on 24 March 2026 to highlight the Meningitis B vaccination offer for eligible person who has returned home and cannot access university-based clinics. 

This item was updated on 20 March 2026 to highlight UKHSA alert for the recommended courses of action to manage cases with infection and contacts.

This item was updated on 19 March 2026 to highlight UKHSA prescribing advice for eligible contacts who have not received prophylaxis.