PEOPLE living in Wensleydale were put on a vaccine alert this week.

More than 200 patients of an Aysgarth surgery were being contacted in a scare over vaccine storage.

But a health service official stressed the vaccines were not high-risk ones such as MMR.

The jabs involved had been mainly for conditions such as whooping cough and travel requirements.

And it was being stressed that the alert was confined to the Central Dales Practice. "There is no need for anyone else to be alarmed," she said.

The practice is taking the precaution of contacting 234 patients who had certain vaccinations between September 20, 2002 and March 13.

These people are being advised that they may need to be recalled and re-vaccinated.

The alert has arisen following a problem with the temperature at which a number of vaccines were stored at the surgery.

The practice followed the advice of the North Yorkshire Health Protection Unit and was contacting the patients on Wednesday.

Patients were being advised there is a small chance the vaccine they received may not have been fully effective.

A helpline has been set up to give advice and information and patients are being asked to contact their GP to discuss what, if any, further action is needed.

Dr Phil Kirby, Hambleton and Richmondshire Primary Health Care Trust's public health director, said: "We know people being contacted by the surgery may be anxious. We would reassure them that the risk of the vaccines being ineffective is probably quite low.

"However, we cannot guarantee these vaccinations will have provided full protection. We agree with the practice that patients need to be aware of the situation and be given the chance to discuss re-immunisation.

"The possible problem came to light during a routine audit of vaccine storage facilities in GP practices and health centres.

"The practice, working with the PCT and North Yorkshire Health Protection, then immediately took the necessary action to protect public health."

All patients who had vaccinations at the Aysgarth surgery during the relevant period are being contacted.

Dr Louise Coole, consultant in communicable diseases with North Yorkshire Health Protection, said: "The priority is to ensure we safeguard the health of our patients and the public and the action we have taken reflects this."

"All patients will have a special helpline number which they can contact for more information.

"We want to stress that patients who have received a letter from the practice are not affected.

"The practice, Health Protection Unit and PCT have worked together to ensure all measures have been put in place to minimise the risk of the problem recurring."

The practice has apologised to patients for any inconvenience.

The PCT spokesman said: "We had an audit of the whole PCT area so we know this problem is confined to Aysgarth.

"The people involved could well be OK, this is just a precaution."