Pharmacies are facing “unprecedented” demand for meningitis vaccines amid an outbreak of the disease in Kent, the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has warned.
A snap survey by the NPA revealed that 87% of pharmacies have seen “considerable rises in requests from worried parents for meningitis vaccinations, far exceeding supply available from wholesalers”.
The body noted that some pharmacies have received “30 to 40 requests for bookings just this morning”, as well as “requests from patients pre-emptively trying to order antibiotics”.
Read more: Pharmacy sector calls for meningitis jabs after outbreak
And it added that 95% of pharmacies surveyed “had seen a surge in patients seeking advice on minor ailment symptoms who are concerned these could be indicators of meningitis”.
Pharmacies typically only supply meningitis vaccinations as part of travel services, the NPA said, adding that many “may not be able to order stocks due to the outbreak”.
Targeted vaccinations
Health secretary Wes Streeting told the House of Commons today that the outbreak of meningitis B in Canterbury and East Kent was “unprecedented” and “a rapidly developing situation”.
He also confirmed that the government will “begin a targeted vaccination programme for students living in halls of residence” at the University of Kent in Canterbury” in a matter of days.
Read more: Pharmacies signposting to measles vaccination amid outbreak
The UK Health Security Agency “will provide further advice on other cohorts in the coming days”, he said, and the government will follow the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s advice on “wider eligibility”.
“In light of this latest outbreak, I will be asking them to re-examine eligibility for meningitis vaccines,” he added.
“Constrained levels”
NPA chair Olivier Picard said pharmacies are facing “unprecedented levels of requests for meningitis vaccinations” following the outbreak.
“We understand many patients, including parents with older teenagers, will be concerned by this situation and will be keen to vaccinate themselves or their loved ones,” he said.
But he warned that pharmacies “are having to manage constrained levels of supply” and “many have told us they cannot order in new stock”.
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Meanwhile, Independent Pharmacies Association chief executive Dr Leyla Hannbeck has called on the NHS to “urgently commission pharmacies” to provide nationwide catch-up vaccinations for university students and those born before 2015, who have not been vaccinated against meningitis B.
It follows similar calls from the NPA and the Company Chemists’ Association earlier this week to commission pharmacies to deliver meningitis jabs.
“There is not a moment to be lost in protecting young people across the country,” Hannbeck said.
Read more: ‘Commission by age’ for better vaccine uptake, urges CCA
“Pharmacies, especially in Kent, are seeing a surge in demand for private meningitis B vaccinations,” she added. “But supplies are running low with some pharmacies already out of stock.”
“Worried families must not be left to a lottery. The NHS needs to step in and commission a national, pharmacy-led catch-up programme now.”
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It comes after the NPA last month called for the expansion of community pharmacy vaccine services amid a measles outbreak in north London.
The body said at the time that “we need to work across the whole health service to perform this vital public health role, not leave it to just one small part of it”.
