May 19, 2026

expert reaction to fourth case of meningitis in Reading

Scientists comment on the fourth case of meningitis in Reading.

Prof Andrew Pollard, Director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, University of Oxford, said:

“There are many strains of the bacteria that cause meningitis and septicaemia and some are more likely to be associated with clusters of cases as happened in the recent outbreaks in Kent and Dorset. The size of the outbreak in Kent was unusual but appears to have been halted by timely public health intervention with antibiotics and vaccines. There are standard policies in place to respond when clusters occur and they work. We understand that the recent cases reported, including the most recent one in Reading are not the same strain as those in Kent and we should anticipate this outbreak being controlled with routine public health measures. 

“These bacteria continue to circulate among teenagers and young adults, most of whom remain healthy and do not know they have these bacteria in their throats. For most of us these bacteria are harmless. A vaccine programme for teenagers could prevent some of these rare cases but not all (not all strains are covered by available vaccines), but might have prevented some of the tragedies seen this year so far. 

“However, the disease is so rare that most people, if vaccinated, would not themselves benefit (as most won’t get the disease) and huge numbers of doses would need to be purchased and used to prevent such rare cases. We don’t know in advance who is going to become ill. This is a problem for the Government, the vaccine could prevent cases and perhaps reduce the risk of these awful outbreaks, but it would be unlikely that routine vaccination of all teenagers would fit with the established rules on cost-effectiveness in the NHS that are set by HM Treasury to ensure optimal and equitable use of public money. If rules were relaxed for all medical interventions and the many drugs with some but limited overall benefit were approved, the drug budget for the NHS would spiral out of control. This seems cruel for affected individuals and families and makes doctors who are in the front line of the fight to save critically ill children with the disease feel let down but it is a clinical and economic reality, until or unless new data on cost-effectiveness for the vaccine are identified or someone comes up with a new system for allocating money for health interventions that favours vaccination against meningitis.”

All our previous output on this subject can be seen at this weblink: https://www.sciencemediacentre.org/expert-reaction-to-meningitis-outbreak-in-reading/

Declared interests

Prof Sir Andrew Pollard: “Former chair of JCVI”