00:00It's been three months since the meningitis outbreak in Canterbury claimed the lives of two
00:04young people and a new vaccination program has now been introduced specifically to protect year 13
00:09students or those aged 18 to 25 starting further education this autumn. This vaccine is something
00:15that parents of those affected like Sue have been campaigning for. Her son Matthew passed away after
00:19contracting meningitis B back in 2023 and she says while the vaccine is a step in the right direction
00:25she's concerned about exactly who can get it. It's great that a lot of people that go to college
00:31and university will be vaccinated but then on the flip side there's also a huge number of people that
00:39are still not going to be vaccinated because they're not at uni or not at college. Like the
00:46government are still kind of determining who gets to be vaccinated and who doesn't determined on
00:53where that child goes. Her views are shared by those in Canterbury who say they're happy with
00:58the fact the vaccine will be rolled out but are worried about its scope. I think it probably
01:02should be a continuous program. It's offered to children now so for those early years because
01:06they've identified they're at risk. I would imagine there'd be a lot of pressure once it's been done
01:11once. I know they're saying about the cost benefit but essentially it's lives isn't it so people have
01:17died when they've come to university which should be a safe place for them. I believe obviously it's too
01:21too late but it's never too late as well because if people will be saved later on we might as
01:27well
01:27just reduce the rate of death so even though it did come at a later time it's better for it
01:31to come
01:32then it never comes at all. The decision to give the vaccine to those heading to further education
01:36is because of a higher risk for those who are mixing social groups and sharing accommodation.
01:40The discussion around vaccines and preventative measures also reached parliament with some of
01:44Kent's MPs at an event with the Meningitis Research Foundation. What we saw in the outbreak in
01:49East Kent earlier this year was the sort of super spreader event was in a nightclub and so the
01:55people in that nightclub they weren't necessarily students in residential halls and in fact from the
02:01sixth form point of view they weren't they were living at home. So to me I don't see the rationale
02:07for
02:07the distinction between university students who are residential and those who are living at home so to
02:13speak. So I think it should include university students and FE college students who are living at home.
02:17Secretary of State for Health and Social Care James Murray said the Kent outbreak in recent
02:21clusters indicate a possible change to the way men be affects people. While we assess the latest
02:26evidence we are acting now to help protect young people at highest immediate risk as they enter
02:30university and residential colleges this autumn. The two jabs needed for the vaccine will be given
02:34in July and August on the NHS but for those who aren't eligible for it it can be booked through
02:38private services. Despite concerns over the range of eligibility and discussions surrounding a wider
02:43rollout the vaccine will help reduce risk across large groups and the government say it'll give
02:48peace of mind to those in Kent and across the country. Finn McDermid for KMTV.
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