The 44-year-old, a former international consultant, opted to take her daughter, 9, out of the immunisation programme run at her private school because she had reservations about the safety of the vaccine.

After spending hours researching it and speaking with friends in the medical profession, she decided that not enough was known about the long-term effects of the vaccine, and that her child, who has no medical problems, should not have it.

Telegraph.co.uk

However, when news of her choice reached her former partner, 46, a financial consultant, he strongly disagreed.

He has now launched a civil action in the family court division of the Jersey Royal Court in the hope it will decide that the girl must be inoculated.

It is the first case of its kind and could set a precedent for future parental disputes over the vaccine

Her mother told The Daily Telegraph: "I would die a million deaths for my little girl, I love her dearly and don't want to see any harm come to her, but I sincerely believe having this vaccination is not in her best interests.

"I have researched the vaccination extensively, the decision I have made is an informed one. I do not want my daughter to have it.

"My daughter is an extremely healthy child so I don't believe swine flu poses that much of a threat to her. A girl in her class had it, but the symptoms were not too bad, she just complained of a sore throat and feeling out of sorts.

"If she gets swine flu then she will build immunity naturally, and I will nurse her night and day until she is better.

"I am concerned about the long term impact of the vaccination. We were all told in the 1970s that thalidomide was safe for pregnant women, and look what happened."