University Students Heartbroken Over Meningitis Vaccine Shortage

0:00On March 20, students at the University of Kent face heartbreak today, queuing for hours for meningitis vaccines only to be sent away due to A, shortage of staff. The pop-up clinic shut its doors at 5 p.m. for the second straight day, leaving hundreds frustrated despite lines stretching half a mile by. Mid-morning, this stems from a meningitis B outbreak tied to club chemistry nightclub in Canterbury, with 29 cases confirmed so far, including the deaths. Of an 18-year-old six-former and a 21-year-old university student, around 15,000 people, mainly local students and clubgoers from early March, have been told to get vaccinated quickly, along with, anti-biotics. Many students broke down in tears after waiting since before 9 a.m. with some traveling far and missing work shifts over the weekend. They vented anger at the early closure, asking why the clinic could not run later into the evening to handle the clear demand. New genetic tests confirmed the men-be-vaccine should work well against this strain, a sub-variant

1:01circulating in the UK for five years. Officials note the main outbreak seems to be slowing, but worn of possible household clusters nationwide, as students head home. Health leaders are ramping up capacity at other sites open until 7.30 p.m., having already given out over 4,500 vaccines, and 10,000 antibiotic courses in the area, aiming to contain any lingering risks ahead.