HUNDREDS of schoolchildren could be at risk of contracting the deadly TB virus following a Government ruling to limit the number of BCG vaccinations available to teenagers.

A universal programme to administer the BCG inoculation to all schoolchildren was abolished by the Governments Department Of Health earlier this year. It claims a dramatic fall in cases of tuberculosis means it is no longer necessary to vaccinate every student.

Under the new ruling, BCG vaccinations will only be made available to teenagers whose parents or grandparents were born in a country where TB is common or if a family member has suffered from the disease.

Children with parents born in the UK or Western Europe and who have no family history of TB will not be entitled to receive the vaccination.

The decision has angered some parents who claim the move is discriminatory.

Lorraine Foster is the mother of 14-year-old Amy who goes to Marlborough School in St Albans. She recently received a letter from the school informing her the BCG jab would not be made available to every pupil.

She said: "It is total discrimination. We live in a multi-cultural society where we mix with hundreds of people from different backgrounds.

"My daughter goes to a mixed school and gets on buses and could be sitting next to anyone with TB.

"I think it's a dreadful decision."

Mrs Foster, of Bricket Wood, says she now intends to try and get the vaccination done privately. She was referred to the local chest clinic by her GP and is still waiting to hear back if the jab is available.

She added: "I am still waiting to hear if I have to pay for it, but why should we when other people don't have to?"

Like the common cold, TB is spread through the air after infected people cough or sneeze. Health experts insist the likelihood of catching TB in this country is low.

However, a recent report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) claimed the spread of the disease is on the increase globally mainly in African and third world nations.