The government has said it is not cost-effective to offer the meningitis B jab to all children, in response to a petition signed by more than 800,000 people.

The campaign comes after the tragic death of two-year-old Faye Burdett from Maidstone, who spent 12 days fighting the disease.

She died on Valentine's Day.

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But today, in response to calls for the current immunisation programme to be extended to all under 11-year-olds, the Department of Health said it is not a good use of NHS resources.

Currently, the jab is only given to those born after July 2015.

The response, sent to everyone who signed the petition, said: "When any new immunisation programme is introduced, there has to be a cut-off date to determine eligibility.

"While this is extremely difficult for parents whose children aren’t eligible there is no other way of establishing new programmes to target those at highest risk without introducing inequalities.

"This approach is supported by the best evidence and by independent recommendations."

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, the independent expert body that advises the government on all immunisation matters, had previously considered extending the programme but advised against it.

MPs are due to debate the issue in the House of Commons after hearing evidence from experts and those families who have been affected by meningitis B.

Faversham and Mid-Kent MP Helen Whately and Maidstone and the Weald MP Helen Grant were both pressing the health minister to consider what could be done to prevent future deaths.

At Prime Minister's Questions today Mrs Whately said: "I am proud that we are the first country to have a vaccination against meningitis B but could the PM make sure the government looks carefully about what more could be done to prevent more children dying from this horrid disease?”

In reply, the Prime Minister offered his condolences to the family, adding: “We were the first country in the world to have this vaccination programme.

"It was based on advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation and who recommended it was targeted at infant children who were at highest risk; the incidence was highest for babies under five months.

"But I do agree we need to look carefully at all the evidence as do the expert bodies that advise us.”

National charity Meningitis Research Foundation (MRF) is disappointed by the government's response.

Vinny Smith, chief executive of MRF, said: “In the past two weeks there has been an unprecedented surge in public awareness about vaccinations against meningitis and private vaccine stocks have run out.

"The demand for this vaccine is clear. A government working group have been reviewing the rules for assessing cost effectiveness of vaccines. We urge that they report their findings soon so that wider use of the vaccine can be assessed under a new fairer system.

"We also urge government to commit to research which will tell us whether vaccinating teenagers could be the key to protecting everyone.

"This is an exceptional disease, with exceptional fear associated with it. For every parent who worries this could touch their family, 400 cases of meningitis each year is simply 400 too many.”