A girl whose grandfather had TB has launched a crusade to secure vaccinations for pupils in Colchester.

Victoria Thompson, 15, has taken up the cause after hundreds of pupils in north-east Essex missed out on the jabs.

She feels she may be more susceptible to the potentially-fatal infectious disease because her grandfather Ernest Cummins, of Nancy Smith Close, Colchester, had it when he was younger.

And fellow pupils also feel strongly about having the inoculation. Victoria has asked North Essex MP Bernard Jenkin to help and he has taken her concerns to the Health minister.

Although TB is not as common as at the beginning of the 20th century, doctors are concerned it is increasing.

About 360 pupils -- year nine and ten -- at Victoria's school, St Benedict's College, in Colchester, were due to be vaccinated in October. But at short notice the programme was cancelled because of manufacturing problems.

It meant a handful of schools in north-east Essex missed out on the jabs.

Victoria, of Sexton Close, Rowhedge, said: "It is a silly situation. The number of children wanting the vaccine is piling up. We haven't been told when we will be able to get ours and that is why I wrote to my MP.

"I feel strongly about having the jab because I may be more prone to it, but my fellow pupils also agree it is a sensible precaution."

North Essex Health Authority confirmed that one batch of the vaccine failed. Because the batch size is so huge, it meant there were not enough supplies for a few schools, but the jabs may be rescheduled for April.

Mr Jenkin said: "I wrote to the minister at the beginning of December asking him to look into Victoria's allegations as a matter of urgency.

"Six weeks later and still no response. The situation is totally unacceptable."

St Benedict's headteacher Alan Whelan said: "I commended Victoria for taking up this cause.The whole class felt cheated because they didn't get the vaccinations."

Victoria -- backing from MP Bernard Jenkin.

Picture: NIGEL BROWN

Dangers of disease making a comeback

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by the mycobacterium tuberculosis.

The bacterium is mostly kept in check by the body's immune system. About five per cent of those infected develop the disease and it can be fatal.

It takes several forms but most commonly develops in the lungs. The vaccine called BCG was developed in about 1920 and the first antituberculosis drug, streptomycin, in 1944.

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