Meningitis outbreak

[Flipitoff]

I’m freaking out a bit

DD has been here all day after travelling from uni yesterday. Her housemate is really poorly and now I’ve just seen the news about the meningitis outbreak at her uni.

Her housemate is in the house on her own now - I’ve told DD to call the uni and let them know. Worried that DD has been here with us all day in case she gets sick

The Meningitis society are trying to urge the government to vaccinate young people against strain b. I've written to my MP asking for him to consider this seriously.

So have I. It shouldn't be that only teenagers with rich parents are able to get vaccinated.

https://www.meningitisnow.org/meningitis-now-stories/campaigns/no-plan-b-for-menb/ you can sign the petition here

@MrsJamin they want a lot of details for that petition unfortunalty otherwise id sign it

@DallasMajor totally agree , we are getting DC a booster as uni coming up and we are not by any means rich

I also think it’s worth knowing that there are quite a few strains of Men B and this outbreak looks to be a different strain to the Kent one. The vaccine therefore can’t cover all strains. There are some men B strains that don’t have a vaccine. It’s all quite confusing.

Some protection is better than none though.

I think it's best to set up a govt petition...needs to go on the mn petitions site, no cost involved, email feedback provided
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/new#main-content

There's one already, no need to start a new one.

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/764623
Please sign, it takes one minute.

Thanks - have signed.

Anyone know anything about which of the two vaccines for Men B Is the best? I understand there are two types!?

@doopwoop news to me ??

according to AI;

Bexsero: Requires a 2-dose series. The second dose is given at least 1 month after the first. For those at continued high risk, a booster may be recommended.
Trumenba: For most healthy individuals, a 2-dose series is given at least 6 months apart. If the second dose is given earlier than 6 months, a third dose must be administered at least 4 months after the second dose. For high-risk groups, a 3-dose series (0, 1-2, and 6 months) is the standard schedule

I think there’s a bit of confusion currently about which men b vaccination is best as the UKHSA hasn’t identified which strain of men b this latest outbreak was. Well they hadn’t on Friday/Saturday.

There are 2 types of men b vaccine they cover some similar strains and some different ones. All this is news to me. So hard to get the adequate protection or even guidance on this.

Some private schools (I know) have held off ordering vaccines for a roll out until they get confirmation which is best suited. I’ve done DS1 now so have to hope that provides some protection.

www.lshtm.ac.uk/newsevents/news/2026/rapid-reaction-reading-meningitis-outbreak-what-do-we-know

Quite a useful article about the different strains and what we currently know.

you're right, it is so hard to get the correct information and guidance, hence us all coming on here and trying to work it out. the public messaging is terrible!

PS thank you @Delatron that was helpful!

No worries! It’s so hard to find correct information out there. I’ve decided to also get DS in year 11 done. I’ll try and find out more info from the pharmacist next week as he’s very knowledgeable.

thank you! please do come back and post if you find out anything new! :)

I will!

It looks like this was an isolated outbreak- fingers crossed. But so close to home and DS socialises with kids from two of the schools involved.

Thanks put we need to spread this petition as doesn't have many signed considering it's been up since October

Another case at a junior school in Tilehurst - so same area. Yr 4 pupil. Seems young - unclear if or how connected to the other cases but they are recovering well in hospital.

Someone needs to post the petition on the mumsnet petitions site. I can't do it as am having difficulty changing my password:

www.mumsnet.com/talk/petitions_noticeboard

See my post re putting it on the petitions site

There's a fourth case weirdly in a Y4 child in West Reading - https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/26119806.reading-meningitis-outbreak-confirmed-meningitis-b/