STUDENTS in university halls in Kent are to be offered the meningitis B vaccine, Wes Streeting said today in response to an “unprecedented” outbreak.

The Health Secretary said most students would not already be vaccinated against menB, adding that the jabs will begin in the next few days.

Four schools in Kent have now confirmed cases of meningitis among their students.

Mr Streeting told MPs: “This is an unprecedented outbreak. It is also a rapidly developing situation.”

He said the menB vaccine has been available on the NHS since 2015 as part of routine childhood immunisations, “but clearly most students would not be vaccinated.”

He added: “Given the severity of the situation, I can confirm to the House that we will begin a targeted vaccination programme for students living in halls of residence at the University of Kent in Canterbury, which will begin in the coming days.”

The programme may also expand further if other groups are deemed to be at risk.

Some 15 cases of meningitis have so far been reported to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) in Kent, up from 13 reported previously.

The UKHSA, which is investigating the outbreak that left two young people dead, said all the cases had required hospital admission.