SCHOOLCHILDREN in the borough will start being vaccinated against tuberculosis (TB) next term after the immunisation programme was suspended 18 months ago because supplies ran short.

The BCG vaccine to help protect against TB is normally given to children aged between 10 and 14.

Now, a catch-up programme will begin in schools, starting with the oldest pupils who missed their routine jab.

It will start with pupils in Year 11, who will receive their vaccine before September. Children in Year 9 and Year 10 will be given the injection in the next academic school year, starting this September. Those in Year 8 can expect to receive the vaccination between September 2002 and July 2003. Dr Leroy Benons, consultant in communicable disease control at Bury and Rochdale Health Authority, said that, despite the delay in administering the vaccine, children had not been placed at increased risk.

"It is unfortunate that we, like other areas, had to suspend our vaccination programme due to a national shortage. Thankfully the situation will soon be rectified when we re-start the programme to protect local children."

"I would like to reassure parents that any delay in their child receiving their BCG would not significantly affect their risk of catching TB. It is given in school mainly to provide protection later in their lives."

He added: "Parents may have heard reports that TB has been increasing in recent years. In most parts of this country TB is still very uncommon.

"Children in groups of the population where it is more common will already have been given BCG as babies. BCG does not give complete protection against TB, but it is an important part of our measures to prevent this disease.