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Original poster

AIBU to get COVID flashbacks from the Meningitis Outbreak

60 replies

LawlessLeslie · 16/03/2026 20:29

The students who think they have been in contact with the virus are queuing up for antibiotics. Those interviewed on the news, are saying once they have the medication they will be heading home.
So thousands of people in contact with something that has killed plan to move across the country.
I don’t expect the government to enforce lock down on anyone but it doesn’t seem like an ideal situation for the rest of the country.

OP posts:
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Shouwl · 18/03/2026 11:58

babasaclover · 18/03/2026 11:42

@LawlessLeslieam I the only one who thinks standing in a line queuing for antibiotics is where they will catch it if not already exposed. There must be a better way!

No because it’s not airborne. It’s not Covid/flu/cold etc. And even if it was, standing in a queue outside you’d still be very unlikely to catch any of those things as well!

babasaclover · 18/03/2026 11:42

@LawlessLeslieam I the only one who thinks standing in a line queuing for antibiotics is where they will catch it if not already exposed. There must be a better way!

Original poster
LawlessLeslie · 18/03/2026 11:13

It seems adults are ‘allowed’ to have a booster after 5 years if at risk but immunity actually wanes significantly after 1 year and continues to drop.
That explains the policy of only vaccinating young people in the at risk area. Otherwise if a young person came in contact with the virus but had had the jab 4 years ago they wouldn’t be allowed a booster but would have limited immunity left from the previous one.

OP posts:
PeonyPatch · 18/03/2026 10:22

hollytheheroic · 18/03/2026 09:40

Yeah I agree. But it's odd that the information isn't clear as the jab has been in the vaccination programme for over ten years now. You think they would have a clear idea by now of how effective it is.

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Yes, I agree with you. The only reason I can think of is that they are still investigating this particular strain and maybe the vaccination in circulation isn’t linked completely with current strain. I think it’s a lot more complicated than we think. These things take time; testing and analysing the results and then deciding on the best plan of action.

hollytheheroic · 18/03/2026 09:40

PeonyPatch · 18/03/2026 07:42

i don’t think this is quite known yet. Seems like they’re doing their best to figure it out as it unfolds.

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Yeah I agree. But it's odd that the information isn't clear as the jab has been in the vaccination programme for over ten years now. You think they would have a clear idea by now of how effective it is.

PeonyPatch · 18/03/2026 07:42

hollytheheroic · 18/03/2026 07:38

I would like some clarity on how protected children are if they had the vaccination as babies and if and when a booster is required. It doesn't seem like it's really clear. But the pharmacies don't appear to offer boosters for men b, just the two stage course.

i don’t think this is quite known yet. Seems like they’re doing their best to figure it out as it unfolds.

hollytheheroic · 18/03/2026 07:38

I would like some clarity on how protected children are if they had the vaccination as babies and if and when a booster is required. It doesn't seem like it's really clear. But the pharmacies don't appear to offer boosters for men b, just the two stage course.

AleaEim · 18/03/2026 07:35

The baby had the vaccination also which is worrying.

AleaEim · 18/03/2026 07:30

Well it is quite serious especially for children and if it is a new variant which we can’t know yet then being vaccinated may not help. There is a confirmed case in London Evalina, a 9 month old baby in critical condition who doesn’t live in Canterbury but in folkstone.

mumofoneAloneandwell · 17/03/2026 14:14

LawlessLeslie · 16/03/2026 21:42

If up to date on childhood vaccinations a 6 year old will have been vaccinated against meningitis b which accounts for roughly 88% of cases. They haven’t yet disclosed which type of meningitis it is though.

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Ah okay - she had all her vaccinations iirc but hasn't had any boosters so will look into that

Scary isnt it, those poor families

mumofoneAloneandwell · 17/03/2026 14:12

Ifeeltheneedtheneedforcoffee · 16/03/2026 21:39

I should have also said not to worry. Just read up on the symptoms so you know as its good to know but despite what the op is trying to frighten you with it isnt like covid.
Meningitis spreads quickly in university students because they live together and lots of kissing and sharing etc.
Different lifestyle to a 6 year old! 😁

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😅 the way she was jumping around, refusing to sleep, last night, I might beg to differ!

Thank you - I'm a worrier

PeonyPatch · 17/03/2026 13:59

I live in Kent and it is a worry. I don’t live anywhere nr the university though. However, I can see (and empathise) that it can bring up memories of the COVID pandemic. Try not to worry though, it is, as others have highlighted, a very different disease that isn’t as transmissible and it looks like they’ve responded fairly well.

Franpie · 17/03/2026 13:51

MatildaMas · 17/03/2026 13:44

Teenagers get the ACWY vaccine at 14 not menengitis B which is responsible for the current outbreak.
The men B vaccine has only been around a few years and teenagers won't have had it unless their parents paid privately before they went to uni.

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Apologies, I hadn’t read the news today, yesterday they still hadn’t confirmed the strain.

The Men B vaccine doesn’t last long anyway though right? So even if they had had it as babies, it would be long gone out of their system by now.

Hollyhobbi · 17/03/2026 13:51

mumofoneAloneandwell · 16/03/2026 21:22

Is it highly transmittable?

My dd is 6, and had the mmr vaccines, is she at risk? x

No it’s not highly transmissible. And no measles,mumps and rubella are not meningitis. Did she have the meningitis B vaccine as a baby?

LuckyAmy1986 · 17/03/2026 13:47

Franpie · 17/03/2026 13:30

Um, we do?!

Teenagers get the vaccine at 14 in school.

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We don't . For Men B, which this outbreak is

LuckyAmy1986 · 17/03/2026 13:46

DeftWasp · 16/03/2026 22:25

Exactly, from a practical standpoint they are better off being broken up and dispersed rather than remaining in halls, in close proximity, when spread will likely continue at a low level - easiest way to stop it is to dish out antibiotics and disperse.

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It IS the bacterial form though

MatildaMas · 17/03/2026 13:44

Franpie · 17/03/2026 13:30

Um, we do?!

Teenagers get the vaccine at 14 in school.

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Teenagers get the ACWY vaccine at 14 not menengitis B which is responsible for the current outbreak.
The men B vaccine has only been around a few years and teenagers won't have had it unless their parents paid privately before they went to uni.

Franpie · 17/03/2026 13:30

LawlessLeslie · 17/03/2026 12:24

The thing that really gave me flashbacks was watching the ill being transported by people in full PPE.
I don’t think it is a bad thing this is being reported and making everyone aware of how serious meningitis can be.
Why on earth don’t we have an NHS vaccination program to catch those teens who didn’t get vaccinated against MenB as infants?
Is everyone ok with the privileged paying boots et al for protection whilst less advantaged children take their chance?

Um, we do?!

Teenagers get the vaccine at 14 in school.

Original poster
LawlessLeslie · 17/03/2026 12:24

The thing that really gave me flashbacks was watching the ill being transported by people in full PPE.
I don’t think it is a bad thing this is being reported and making everyone aware of how serious meningitis can be.
Why on earth don’t we have an NHS vaccination program to catch those teens who didn’t get vaccinated against MenB as infants?
Is everyone ok with the privileged paying boots et al for protection whilst less advantaged children take their chance?

OP posts:
Shouwl · 17/03/2026 06:58

Well I remember all the panicking on here and other social media platforms over monkey pox and people saying they were thinking of taking their children out of school etc so I’m not surprised!

Leftrightmiddle · 17/03/2026 01:07

Ap42 · 16/03/2026 22:45

I live in an area affected by this outbreak, and people are pulling their children out of school. In that respect it feels very much like covid times, as people are panicked. The difference is we have treatments for meningitis.

Well to be fair whilst meningitis does have treatment it is a very very serious illness.
2 young people.have dies and 11 others are in serious condition in hospital.
The health board is dealing with this outbreak by
A. Preventative antibiotics to those deemed most at risks ie close contact, those in halls and schools with confirmed cases.
B. Raising awareness or symptoms to look out for and remind people that early medical.care is vital.

I don't think parents keeping children home is a crazy choice as families need to do what they think best with the info they have

capture2 · 17/03/2026 00:20

Well the conspiracy theory people are out on social media already so…
apparently antibiotics can’t be given as a preventive thing, this is the new scare for people to get vaccines and having antibiotics when you’re not sick makes you immunocompromised. That was a brief summary of just one comments section Confused
are people fucking mad or just dim?

Franpie · 16/03/2026 23:03

Meningitis is known to go round universities.

There was quite a serious outbreak when I was at university in the early 2000’s.

Meningitis isn’t terribly easy to catch. You need to have close contact over quite a period of time. Someone walkingpast you in the street isn’t going to give it to you, even if they coughed whilst walking past you.

It goes through universities because of all the snogging, shagging, sharing glasses, sharing food etc etc.

Spookyspaghetti · 16/03/2026 22:46

mumofoneAloneandwell · 16/03/2026 21:22

Is it highly transmittable?

My dd is 6, and had the mmr vaccines, is she at risk? x

Check your child’s red book for which vaccines they have received. MenB is usually given at 8 weeks, 12 weeks and 1 year alongside the various other vaccines.