Single measles jab: the facts
by CHARLOTTE HARDING, femail.co.uk
As more and more parents demand information about separate jabs for measles, mumps and rubella we present the facts.
What is the difference between MMR and separate vaccines?
MMR is a mixed vaccine that protects against measles, mumps and rubella. It is administered in one simple injection. MMR jabs have been administered in Britain since 1988. Separate injections protect against one disease only: measles, mumps or rubella and are taken one by one. These were standard in Britain until 1988.
What is the controversy over the MMR jab?
Research published in 1998 suggested that exposure to the triple vaccine could damage the brain and cause autism. In the past decade, there has been a dramatic rise in the number of cases of autism reported, both here and in the U.S., where health experts have now demanded a major probe into any link with MMR.
In the U.S. more than a million dollars has been paid in compensation over the last ten years to parents alleging their children were harmed by the MMR jab.
In Britain a parent's support group, Jabs, has 2,000 members who believe their children have suffered side-effects including arthritis, epilepsy, paralysis and encephalitis after receiving the MMR jab.
It has also emerged that the jab was brought in after only a month of testing. Experts said the vaccine should have been checked for longer to ensure it was safe.
In February 2002 new research only deepened the controversy when scientists established a possible link between the measles virus, autism and a related bowel disorder. The research showed that the measles virus is present in the guts of autistic children who suffer a rare form of bowel disease.
Are separate vaccines legal?:
Yes. Although separate vaccines for measles, mumps and rubella are now unlicensed in Britain it is not illegal for doctors and clinics to import the vaccines as long as they inform the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) that they are bringing the vaccine into the country.
What is the cost?:
Approx £45
Where are they available?:
Only a handful of clinics and private doctors in London, Brighton, Sheffield, West Yorkshire, Edinburgh and Glasgow are openly administering the separate vaccines in the UK. But it is thought many more doctors may be offering their patients the jabs.
Private practice doctors who give single vaccines
Dr Peter Mansfield, Good Healthkeeping Centre, Garrod House, Manby Park, Louth, Lincolnshire LN11 8UT, tel. 01507 329 100.
Dr Mansfield is also at DesumoHealthcare, West View, Bridge Street, Ledbury, Herefordshire HR8 2AN, 01531 631642.
Dr Peter Copp, GP Plus, 1 Wemyss Place, Edinburgh EH36DH, 0131 225 9949.
Direct Health 2000, 6 GroveMarket Place, Court Yard, Eltham, London SE9 5PU, 020 8294 2780.
Dr Parviz Seyedi, 1 Albany Place, Egham, Surrey, 01784 433380. six- Dr Richard Halvorsen, 64 LambsConduit St, London WC1N 3NA, 020 7405 3541.
Dr John Oakley, 52 Bishops Way, Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield, WestMidlands B74 4XS, 0121 308 8876.
The vaccination support group JABS can provide details of all the clinics offering single jabs via an email service on their website www.jabs.org.uk
How do the separate vaccines work?:
The measles jab is given to children at 13 months, followed at least six weeks later by the mumps vaccine. At least six weeks after this the rubella jab is administered. Children should have a blood test five years later to see if a follow-up booster is needed.
Are there any risks?:
The Department of Health claims that children taking separate vaccines are more at risk than those who are given the MMR for two reasons. They claim because there is a delay between the three separate jabs children will be at risk of mumps and German measles for a longer period of time. They also claim that many parents will forget to return with their children for the second and third jabs.
For more information call the vaccination support group Jabs on 01942 713565.
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