AN urgent immunisation clinic is to be held in Billericay following an outbreak of mumps at one of the town’s secondary schools.

Nine students at the Billericay School have been struck down with the infection in recent weeks, prompting the primary care trust, NHS South West Essex, to act. Records show many children at the school are at risk of being infected because they have not had the controversial mumps, measles and rubella jab, which provides protection from the highly-contagious infection.

The trust is to hold an open clinic at the school on Wednesday where pupils can get the jab.

Mumps can result in permanent deafness and viral meningitis. It can also cause painful swelling of the testicles or ovaries, which can lead to infertility.

Bosses from NHS South West Essex have contacted families of students at the school directly, inviting them to attend the clinic.

Kathy Abbott, immunisation manager for the trust, said: “The MMR vaccination is effective against mumps measles and German measles.

“NHS South West Essex would like to remind all students and their parents of the importance of ensuring their vaccinations are up to date and they’ve had both doses of the vaccine.

“Any students from Billericay School who are unsure can just turn up at the clinic, and the school nurse will have that information available.”

The vaccine is usually given to toddlers between 13 and 15 months. A booster jab is given when the child reaches three to five years old.

Having both injections normally results in lifelong protection. However, take-up of the vaccine plummeted in the late 1990s when a doctor highlighted a possible link between the jab and the development of autism in children. The majority of health experts stress there is no proven link between the two.