The family of an 18-year-old who died after a meningitis infection in Kent have described the loss as devastating and urged faster action to protect other young people.
Juliette Kenny fell ill with symptoms including vomiting and facial discolouration and died the day after they appeared, her father said.
She is one of two confirmed fatalities linked to the current outbreak.
Health officials now list 27 confirmed or suspected cases, up from 20 earlier in the week.
The UK Health Security Agency says the cluster is tied to Club Chemistry in Canterbury and has widened vaccine eligibility to anyone who attended the venue between March 5 and 15.
Previously, the MenB vaccine had been offered mainly to students living in university halls, leaving many late teenagers unprotected.
MenB is the leading cause of meningococcal meningitis in the UK, and routine infant immunisation only began in 2015.
Thousands of students have sought the jab since the expansion was announced, with at least 1,600 vaccinations delivered by Thursday evening.
Long queues left more than 100 people turned away when clinics could not see everyone before closing.
New vaccination sites are being added, including a centre opening at Faversham Health Centre with jabs available from 09:00 on Friday, and appointments at the Vicarage Lane Clinic in Ashford.
Among the reported cases are three University of Kent cheerleaders who have been hospitalised and a Morrisons employee who had attended the club.
One linked case was identified at a London higher education institution.
Public health leaders have sounded alarms and asked clinicians to be alert for meningitis symptoms.
The UKHSA’s chief executive described the outbreak’s rapid emergence as unusual and said the specific bacterial strain has been present in the population for several years.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the overall risk to the public remains very low and that life can continue as normal.
Meanwhile, 40 MPs have written to him urging co-ordinated catch-up vaccination programmes and better awareness on campuses.
Patient groups and the Meningitis Research Foundation have pushed for wider vaccine access now, stressing the long-term harm meningitis can cause.
Families affected say quicker, broader protection for teenagers could prevent further deaths.
