Pharmacies are running out of stock for the meningitis B vaccine as concern rises and demand soars.
The spike comes after the UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed it is now investigating 20 cases of meningitis in Kent during an “explosive” outbreak that has left two dead.
Boots has implemented a queuing system for customers to enter the vaccination service page of its website, with a warning that demand for its menB jab is currently high.
Superdrug has also created a waiting list for the vaccine, with a note on its website informing customers of a “national shortage” and adding “stock is limited”. It said it is “working with suppliers to secure more doses”.
The high street pharmacy reported a 65-fold increase in demand compared to last week.
Some pharmacies in Kent are also running out of supplies, according to Dr Leyla Hannbeck, CEO of the Independent Pharmacies Association.
Medway Pharmacy, in Kent, which offers the menB vaccine privately, said it had only a few doses left of the jab.
A pharmacist told the Independent the “demand is quite high” and they had been experiencing a high volume of calls from parents asking where to get the vaccine from.
“Parent’s are worried about their young children,” a pharmacist said. “Some of them missed out apparently and so they're coming to get it now.”
The pharmacist added that about seven people have booked to get a vaccine this afternoon.
However, UKHSA has said that "there are sufficient MenB vaccine stocks", adding that it "will work with local resilience partners to ensure effective distribution".
There were online reports of other pharmacies allegedly price-gouging on vaccines on Tuesday and offering them for “several hundred pounds”. But Mr Streeting said it was “immoral” for companies to profiteer in this situation.
Health chiefs have announced a targeted vaccination programme for students living at Canterbury halls of residence, but not a nationwide roll-out.
The menB vaccine has been available on the NHS since 2015 as part of routine childhood immunisations given to babies, but that means many schoolchildren and university students are not vaccinated.
Mr Streeting has asked the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) to “re-examine eligibility for meningitis vaccines” for a wider group of people after it previously ruled a menB catch-up campaign for older children was not cost-effective.
Although a targeted vaccine rollout is recommended in this instance, epidemiologists have said the menB vaccine is too expensive and doesn’t stop transmission.
“It is an expensive vaccine, and there are better things to spend the NHS budget on,” Keith Neal, professor in the epidemiology of infectious diseases at the University of Nottingham, told The Independent.
“The vaccine does not cover all group B strains. Unlike the ACWY vaccine, which stops people carrying the bacteria, the B vaccine does not prevent carriage.”
The menB vaccine is available privately from Boots and Superdrug for £220 for two doses of the jab, which are to be taken at least a month apart. In comparison, the ACWY vaccine is £57 a dose and is offered to teenagers in school on the NHS, but can be given up to the age of 25 if it has been missed.
The charity Meningitis Now is calling for the menB vaccine to be made available at a “fair price” on the high street and for it to be offered to teenagers and young people as part of the NHS vaccination programme.
“Meningitis Now is calling for the menB vaccine to be available at a fair price on the high street – so more people can make an informed choice and have the option to privately vaccinate their loved ones if they wish,” a spokesperson said.
“But we also believe the menB vaccine should be offered to teenagers and young people as part of the NHS vaccination programme. There is no other way to prevent menB disease – we must vaccinate young people to protect them.”
A spokesperson for Superdrug said: “Following a significant nationwide increase in demand for the Meningitis B vaccine, some nurse clinics are currently experiencing supply shortages. We are working urgently to secure additional stock and have contacted affected patients to reschedule appointments where necessary.”
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