MMR - Why Won't They Let Us Have Single Vaccines?

MMR - Why Won't They Let Us Have Single Vaccines?

There has been a huge response after a public health expert said that children should be banned from school unless they've had the MMR jab.

As reported on ParentDish yesterday, the former chairman of the British Medical Association, Sir Sandy Macara, says the jab should be made compulsory.

I wrote on ParentDish last month in general support of vaccinations, but I think Sir Sandy is going way too far.

It's an extreme reaction to a problem that has been around ever since a report was published back in 1998, linking the jab to autism.

That study has since been widely discredited but many parents are still afraid and many don't get their children immunised, leading to an increase in cases of measles.

Sir Sandy says attempts to persuade people to immunise their children have failed. But they haven't tried everything. They haven't tried offering separate vaccines for measles, mumps and rubella.

I know there is no scientific, statistical evidence that proves a link between MMR and autism. But if single vaccines put parents' minds at rest and encourage them to protect their children, why not offer them?

It's only nine months until I have to decide whether to give my daughter the MMR vaccine or whether to pay, go private and have single vaccines.

I will definitely get my daughter immunised one way or another. It's the responsible thing to do.

But when I read comments which have been left on ParentDish over the last few days from parents who are convinced their children developed problems after the jab, I'm terrified.

One of my brothers has autism and there may be a genetic predisposition, so I'm doubly concerned. I would be a lot happier if we were offered single vaccines on the NHS.

Sir Sandy Macara has admitted that the Government is unlikely to go for extreme tactics like banning kids from school, even though this is general practice in some other countries including the USA.

It's probably just an attempt to start a fresh debate, which has definitely worked. What do you think?

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