Health officials issued the update as calls grow to extend the Meningitis B vaccine programme after the deaths of two young people
16:07, 20 Mar 2026Updated 16:08, 20 Mar 2026
Students wearing face masks queue up to get vaccinated at the University of Kent in Canterbury(Image: CARLOS JASSO, AFP via Getty Images)
Catch-up clinics are being held for teenagers and young adults in Wales who have not had an important meningitis vaccination. Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is holding walk-in clinics for young people in school year nine, aged 13 to 14 and up to the age of 25 who have previously missed their MenACWY vaccination appointment.
Health officials issued the update as calls grow to extend the Meningitis B vaccine programme after the deaths of two young people.
Two students have died and the number of cases of meningitis linked to an outbreak in Kent has risen to 29, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said as alerts have been issued, including to schools and universities in Wales. Make sure you never miss Wales’ biggest updates by getting our daily newsletter
Walk-in clinics to have the MenACWY vaccine – not menigitis B, are being held every Saturday starting this weekend, March 21 until further notice at the following locations:
Barry Hospital, Colcot Road, CF62 8YH (9am-4.30pm)Maelfa Wellbeing Hub, Llanedeyrn, Cardiff, CF23 9PN (9am-4.30pm)
Young people aged 13-14 (school year nine) are invited by GPs in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan to receive this vaccine as part of their routine schedule but sometimes these appointments can get missed, the health board said.
Announcing the clinics, the Health Board said: “The MenACWY vaccine protects against meningococcal disease type A, C, W and Y. While rare, meningococcal disease can be very serious and require urgent hospital treatment. It can lead to life-changing disabilities such as amputations, hearing loss, brain damage and scars.
“If parents of younger children would like information about their meningitis B and pneumococcal vaccination status – both of which are given to children as part of their routine vaccination schedule up to the age of 2 – please call the vaccination service on 029 2184 1234 (lines open Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm). You can also book any missed doses with your GP.”
The family of Juliette Kenny, a sixth former and one of the two young people confirmed to have died in the “explosive” outbreak in Kent are backing calls from the Meningitis Research Foundation to extend NHS access for the menB vaccine to teenagers and young adults.
NHS Kent and Medway says 4,514 vaccines had been given in Kent as of just after 2pm on Friday March 20. Officials say that 10,561 antibiotics have also been handed out. The update comes after health officials in Kent said they had more than 6,000 doses available and an extra 5,000 have been ordered.
PHW issued advice to schools, universities and GPs in Wales following the fatal meningitis outbreak in Kent. It confirmed that four of the five meningitis cases in Wales this year were meningitis B.
Cases have been confirmed at two universities, Kent and Canterbury Christchurch, as well as a number of schools in Kent.
The outbreak is thought to have originated in the Club Chemistry nightclub in Canterbury.
Students in Kent have been given, and are being offered, preventative antibiotics and the meningitis B vaccine to help prevent infection. Hundreds queued on campus for the jabs.
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