Ananova:

Scientists have found there is no evidence the MMR jab causes immune system overload, and if anything it seems to protect children.

The findings go against the idea that exposure to three live viruses through the injection could leave children more vulnerable to serious bacterial infection.

Fears about the safety of the measles, mumps and rubella jab have prompted many parents to refuse to give the injection to their child. It has been argued that the effect of the jab on the immune system could lead to persistent viral infections and even bowel problems or autism.

Researchers from the Public Health Laboratory Service set out to test this theory in a study published in the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood.

They said if MMR did suppress the immune system significantly, then there should be more cases of infection in the period just after children had the jab.

The researchers looked at data from hospitals in the former Thames region in south England from April 1991 and March 1995.

They monitored all cases of serious bacterial infection, such as septicaemia and meningitis and pneumonia, among one to two-year-olds admitted to hospital within three months of the MMR jab.

They identified 436 hospital admissions in children who had been vaccinated with the MMR jab in the previous three months. Forty one cases were excluded from the data because the children had an underlying condition or were readmitted.

Of the remaining children, 116 had invasive bacterial infection and 279 had pneumonia. But, after taking into account background prevalence of infection, the researchers found there was no evidence that the MMR jab increased the risk of serious infection.

In fact they found it seemed to protect children against the risk of pneumonia. The authors say the results provide no support for the idea the MMR jab could lead to immune overload, or that single mumps, measles and rubella jabs should be provided.

Story filed: 06:36 Thursday 20th February 2003

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