A special school has been hit by a swine flu outbreak.

An emergency vaccination programme has been carried out to protect the 148 pupils at West Gate school, New Parks, Leicester.

Staff were also immunised and parents were offered the injection to help protect the youngsters.

Public health officials said children with special needs were more at risk from developing serious, and in some cases, life-threatening complications from swine flu.

Dr Sophie Haroon, a specialist registrar in public health, said: "We knew we had an outbreak situation."

Staff and students in all Leicestershire special schools are to be offered the vaccine from Monday as a result.

Public health officials spent two days at the school carrying out the jabs.

The decision to take immediate action was made on Monday when 17 students and 11 members of staff called in sick with swine flu symptoms.

The majority are now back at school and officials from the Health Protection Agency said others were "receiving the appropriate medical care and responding well to treatment."

On Wednesday, a total of 185 students and staff were vaccinated and a further 45 yesterday.

They will all have a second immunisation in three weeks time.

Dr Haroon said: "The students all have special needs, lots of complex medical needs and are a very vulnerable group of the population. The vaccine will help to save lives."

Dr Haroon said she was pleased the majority of staff and students had agreed to the jab.

She said: "Parents were naturally concerned about the effect of the anti-virals and vaccination because of the medication their children are taking.

"The vaccine is safe and the best people can do is to have the injection when they are offered it."

Dr Tim Davies, speaking for the NHS in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, said: "This is an example that swine flu is still around and it is so important for people, especially the at risk groups, to have the injection."

Zuffar Haq, from Oadby, has a nine-year-old daughter Mariam, who is due to have her jab at her Birkett House community special school, in Wigston, next week.

Mr Haq said: "This is a very proactive position and I am glad the programme is being taken into special schools.

"People need to be encouraged to have this to protect others."

The first batch of swine flu vaccine – 67,000 doses – arrived in Leicestershire at the start of the week.

A further 30,000 were due yesterday and it is hoped a further 100,000 doses will be here before Christmas.