Batches of a meningitis C vaccine made by Novartis have been recalled in Britain due to contamination fears, the country's healthcare regulator said.

The company's decision to recall two batches of Menjugate Kit is a precaution following an initial failure of a sterility test, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said in a statement on its website .

The move follows positive tests for the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus in some samples, though these were not distributed in the British market.

"This is an entirely precautionary action," the agency said. "The MHRA have no reports of adverse reactions associated with these batches ... There is no reason for UK children to be at any risk from this product."

Novartis' co-promotion partner in Britain is Sanofi Pasteur MSD, a 50/50 joint venture between Sanofi-Aventis and Merck & Co .