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Vaccines have run out and pharmacies are overflowing in the UK due to an outbreak of meningitis

Concern has spread throughout the United Kingdom. The outbreak began at a discotheque in Anterbury Canterbury where university students meet. Two people have already died and at least 20 have been infected.

(Foto de ARCHIVO)

Imagen de recurso de un profesional sanitario administrando la vacuna frente a la meningitis a un joven.



REMITIDA / HANDOUT por JUNTA DE ANDALUCÍA

Fotografía remitida a medios de comunicación exclusivamente para ilustrar la noticia a la que hace referencia la imagen, y citando la procedencia de la imagen en la firma

17/11/2023
Health personnel inoculating a patient. Photo: Europa Press

An outbreak of meningitis B started in Canterbury, in the south-east of England, has so far left two dead and at least 20 infected . Concern has spread among the population and, in trying to get the vaccine, pharmacies have been left without stocks.

The outbreak of this diseasebegan atthe Chemistry discotheque in Canterbury with students from the nearby University of Kent, as the two dead are students.

The United Kingdom Health Safety Agency (UKHSA) confirmed that it is investigating an "explosive" outbreak of this group B meningococcal disease in the Kent region.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has also reported the outbreak from Geneva and stressed the need for early treatment.

Following the deaths of the students, and in order to limit the spread, the health authorities have administered more than 2,500 doses tostudents at the University of Kent , to close contacts and to people who have been to the club from 5 to 7 March.

You can't get the vaccine.

Meningitis in this outbreak is a serious bacterial infection that can inflame protective membranes around the brain and spinal cord and, if not treated quickly, become deadly. It spreads through direct contact, through kisses or by sharing a drink, but it doesn't get as easily infected as covid or flu.

The British Health Minister, Wes Streeting, has said that this outbreak is not a "national event," but the exponential increase in cases in just a few days has caused concern among many Britishpeople who want to take the B meningitis vaccine privately.

The price of the vaccine is around 110 pounds (127.35 euros) per dose, but to complete the cycle you need between two and three vaccines (a total of between 254.71 and 382.07 euros).

Boots, the largest pharmaceutical chain inthe United Kingdom , and Superdrug, the country's second largest pharmaceutical retailer, have warned on their websites that there is a "national shortage" of the vaccine and have drawn up a waiting list for those who want to get it when one of the doses is available again.


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