AIBU to get COVID flashbacks from the Meningitis Outbreak

[LawlessLeslie]

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.

Recommend you read this page: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/cases-of-invasive-meningococcal-disease-confirmed-in-kent

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.

The baby had the vaccination also which is worrying.

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.

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.

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.

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.

@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!