Plans are being drawn up to ensure under-fives are given a swine flu vaccination.

They are the next at-risk group in line to receive the immunisation from the NHS.

Nationally, the Government and GPs have failed to reach an agreement on the swine flu vaccination programme for under-fives.

Ministers had offered doctors £5.25 per dose plus a "small concession'' to vaccinate healthy children aged from six months to five.

But the two sides have been unable to agree on how doctors will be compensated for carrying out the vaccinations.

The Government has now asked primary care trusts to come up with plans for handling immunisation in their area.

Dr Peter Marks said: "The NHS in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland is committed to the vaccination of healthy children aged six months up to five years.

"This age group has been identified as being quite vulnerable to the virus and should be given this extra protection.

Staff at GP practices have been doing a magnificent job vaccinating thousands of people in the phase one at-risk groups and still have many patients to see.

"Meanwhile, parents of healthy children who are aged from six months but who are not yet five, should wait until they are invited to attend a vaccination session."

The trust said children's vaccinations would start once the most at-risk group had been immunised, but could not confirm when this would be.

The most at risk include patients with underlying health conditions, such as liver, kidney, heart and lung disease, as well as pregnant women and people who are living with patients with a reduced immunity.