This weekend pupils from Budmouth Academy and Wey Valley Academy were invited to Budmouth on Chickerell Road for a precautionary antibiotic, Ciprofloxacin, to kill any germs that can cause meningitis and septicaemia.

READ MORE Meningitis antibiotic clinic at Budmouth over weekend | Dorset Echo

It comes in a tablet and liquid form and is being administered as a precautionary measure to reduce the risk of further cases in the area.

The clinic has been set up in Budmouth this weekend (Image: Supplied)

As previously reported, the UK Health Security Agency confirmed that a student from Wey Valley was in hospital this week being treated for Meningitis B after falling ill, following two other cases from other schools in Weymouth.

READ MORE Meningitis case at Wey Valley School Weymouth confirmed | Dorset Echo

The cases followed a deadly outbreak in Kent but so far none of the local cases have been confirmed to have a direct link.

A letter given to parents ahead of the weekend clinic stated: “To help manage the flow of this service, students in years 7, 8, and 9 should attend in the morning (from 8am in the morning and before 2pm) and students in years 10, 11, 12, and 13 should attend in the afternoon (from 2pm onwards), wherever possible. The clinic will close at 8pm.

“The staff will use this letter and your ID to confirm you are eligible.

“They will provide you with a single ‘one off’ dose of antibiotics.

“If you can get to the Budmouth site by walking, cycling, bus or by car sharing, please do so.”

Parents who attended the clinic on Saturday praised the efficiency of the system and staff who worked hard to reassure worried students.

Tracey Williams, from Weymouth, who took her son Toby on Saturday morning said: “The process has been brilliant; it is really well organised. We have to remember those who have given up their time today. I think all you can do is follow the advice. I don’t think panicking really makes anything better. I lost a friend to it, so the speed and the reaction to this, you can’t ask for more.”

Tracey Williams and Toby Williams who attended the clinic on Saturday (Image: Chloe Boden)

Donna Nobbs, who brought her daughter to Budmouth said: “We were just happy to get it done and hats off to all the staff giving up their Saturday. It is worrying. I work in healthcare so I know if we are taking measures like this, then it is worrying.”

A single dose of Ciprofloxacin is said to be very safe, and pupils and parents have been handed leaflets on the day explaining side effects and how it works to fight bacteria.

Donna Nobbs, a parent from Weymouth (Image: Chloe Boden)

The Meningitis B vaccine will be offered to students over the next couple of weeks.

Trevor Stimpson, who brought his daughter Neive Houlden-Stimpson to receive her antibiotics said: “They are putting kids at ease and it is a very relaxed atmosphere. Somebody earlier couldn’t take the tablet so they came back to take the liquid version. It is a very efficient system. I feel comfortable as a parent and Neive feels comfortable as a child. With meningitis really making a comeback, it can be nothing but a good thing.

Trevor Stimpson brought his daughter Neive Houlden-Stimpson to receive her antibiotics (Image: Chloe Boden)

“It is scary and I feel for the parents of those children [in Kent]. Hopefully we don’t see any fatal cases here. It would break my heart as a parent.”