A shortage of the vaccine against killer disease tuberculosis means children are having to wait up to two years for a life-saving jab, according to Brentwood and Ongar MPEric Pickles.

He has called for urgent action from the Secretary of State for Health, Alan Milburn, to make sure the vaccine is available for children in his constituency.

"I am told that there is a national shortage of the BCG vaccine which means that some young people due to receive that vaccine are having to wait up to 24 months after the date they should be inoculated before they can be treated," he said.

"That is unacceptable. Tuberculosis is a potential killer disease that has only been kept at bay because of the vaccination programme that has been such a success in this country.

"We need to know how quickly the vaccination programmes can be put back on line.

"The recent refusal by the Department of Health to give priority to Brentwood is unacceptable.

"I have tabled two Parliamentary questions to the Secretary of State for Health asking him to take steps to make sure the vaccine is made available, and that priority be given to providing doctors within Brentwood and Ongar with the vaccine when it does become available so we can remove this 24 month delay."

A spokesman for the Barking, Havering and Brentwood Community Health Trust said: "We have had difficulties due to the national shortage of the vaccine.

"The Trust is doing all it can to ensure the immunisation programmes are in place. There has been added pressure with the introduction of the Meningicoccal Group C vaccine in the autumn.

"In July the Secretary of State announced that this new vaccine was to be introduced to protect children and young people against meningicoccal infection (meningitis and septicamia)."

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