University of Kent Students Queue for Meningitis B Vaccine After Deadly Outbreak
Hundreds of students formed lengthy queues at the University of Kent to receive the meningitis B vaccine, following a deadly outbreak of the infection in the Canterbury area. The university has offered the jab, along with courses of antibiotics, to approximately 5,000 students from its Canterbury campus.
Campus Response and Student Reactions
Security personnel walked along the queue, handing out blue face masks and informing students that they would not be permitted entry into the building without one. Inside Sports Hall 2, nurses wearing plastic aprons and face masks awaited the students to administer the vaccinations.
The Canterbury campus appeared notably quiet during the morning, with cafes and sports halls nearly deserted as many students had fled the city. However, within just 20 minutes of the vaccination centre opening and eligible students receiving invitation emails, a queue had formed that wrapped around the building.
One student, Canter Bonny, 19, expressed shock at the queue's length, stating, "I didn’t expect it to be this long this quickly and it’s not getting any shorter. I may have to leave and come back again tomorrow." He added that the outbreak was particularly frightening as it was close to his house, and his mother had urged him to get the jab. His family's concern was evident, with daily calls advising him to return home.
Brandon, a 22-year-old physics student, praised the university's rapid response, saying, "I wasn’t expecting it to be rolled out this quickly. It was only a couple of days ago they announced they were going to bring the vaccination scheme to students." He described it as a "very pleasant shock" and noted the reassuring sight of many students heading to the centre upon receiving the email.
Criticism and Concerns Over University and Hospital Provisions
Not all feedback was positive. Leonardo Veiga, a 20-year-old business management student, criticised the university's slow initial response, highlighting that students learned about the outbreak from news outlets before official university communications. He called for improved hospital provisions in Canterbury, emphasising the need for a 24/7 Accident and Emergency department.
"If this isn’t a sign to get A&E in Canterbury, which is 24/7, then I don’t know what is. It’s so sickening," Veiga remarked. He decided to postpone his vaccination, opting to assess the situation before getting the jab the following day.
Impact on Freshers and Academic Life
The outbreak has disrupted the first year for many freshers. Dylan, an 18-year-old film student, shared his experience of rushing to the vaccination centre after receiving the email while still in bed. He had initially been worried about a headache but felt better by the time of the queue.
Dylan also expressed concerns about coursework, noting that the outbreak had forced a shift to remote learning via Teams calls, which he found less ideal than in-person sessions. "Now we have another way of doing it and using Teams calls but it would have been much better if it was in-person," he said.
Overall, the vaccination drive saw a mix of urgency, relief, and criticism as the university community grappled with the health crisis. Many students are planning to leave campus for the weekend, reflecting the ongoing tension and precautionary measures in place.
