A school has launched a programme of vaccinations after two children were struck down by meningitis.

A junior pupil at Porter's Grange School in Southchurch Avenue, Southend, was rushed to Southend Hospital three weeks ago but has since made a recovery.

A second junior pupil is still in hospital after being diagnosed with meningococcal meningitis last week, said headteacher Dale Frith.

The news comes ten days after an 11-year-old girl from Milton Hall Primary School, Westcliff, died in hospital in London after being taken ill with meningitis symptoms.

Doctors from South Essex Health Authority are giving injections and prescribing antibiotics to more than 300 junior and infant children and staff at Porter's Grange School this week.

But none of the school's nursery children are being treated. They are not in danger, say health bosses.

The decision has angered nursery pupils' parents Heidi Taylor, whose daughter Shannon is four and Lisa McDowell, whose daughter Bekki is also four.

Mrs Taylor said: "When it comes to meningitis I think all the children should be immunised. It's a killer and they shouldn't be taking any chances."

Mrs McDowell said: "People are scared. All of the teachers are being treated, so why not our children?"

Infant and nursery school teacher Val Frost was unavailable for comment. Junior head Mr Frith said they were following strict advice from doctors on treating pupils.

"Parents should be reassured that everything is being done to safeguard the health of the children," he said.

For the health authority, Dr Amelia Cummings said it was still too early to say if the two junior school cases were linked.

She said: "The juniors are the only group at increased risk. The infants are not but because they can be in close contact with the juniors they are receiving treatment. The nursery group is not mixing with the juniors and is in a different building."

She said: "By giving antibiotics to the whole junior group we are going way beyond the number of people who could be at risk."

All parents were alerted to the two cases in a letter.

Anxious - mums Lisa McDowell and Heidi Taylor with Bekki and Shannon, both four

Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY

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