Explaining MMR 
It's not easy being a parent at the best of times but in recent
years, scare stories in the media over the MMR vaccine have made it even harder. Just how best do you protect your child
- with, or without, a vaccination?
Sarah Kilby investigates...
Rarely a day goes by without some alarming study or worrying trend about
the side effects off the MMR (mumps, measles and rubella) vaccine featuring in the news. What was once a
straightforward decision to have your children protected against potentially fatal childhood diseases now appears to be fraught with risk.
Despite there being not a shred of conclusive evidence linking to the MMR vaccine with either Crohn's disease or autism, such is the strength of media coverage that parents are still fearful.
Large numbers are ignoring official reassurances and refusing to have their children vaccinated, so that vaccine coverage levels have dropped from the required 95 per cent to 'critical levels' of 88 per cent and lower in some areas. And recently, increasing numbers of parents, unimpressed by a £3m government publicity campaign, are seeking the alternative of single jabs.
GP Peter Mansfield is becoming well-known for his controversial one-man crusade
to give parents the right to choose whether their child can have the
single vaccine, as opposed to the government favoured triple
vaccination. Due to be called before the GMC for flouting official health policy,
the case has now been dropped. We have the latest news here...
Before you make up your mind, it's worth considering the facts, which
is why we're providing this comprehensive examination of MMR's
history, the risks of not
giving your child the vaccine and whether
single jabs are the solution. Finally, we weigh up all the
evidence and reach our conclusion.
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