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January 06, 2003

Note to Readers: NNii has now posted "Detailed information about smallpox, Common questions about smallpox and smallpox vaccine for the general public, and Common questions on smallpox and smallpox vaccine for health care professionals" on its Web site, http://www.immunizationinfo.org.

INTERNATIONAL IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Welsh Mumps Cases Double Amid Fears Over MMR Jab"

Western Mail (library.dialog.com/sourcebook/newsline/western_mail.html)

(01/03/03) P. 1; Brindley, Madeleine

Welsh health professionals are concerned that a significant increase in mumps cases among adolescents--rising from 65 in 2001 to 143 last year--will spread to younger, unprotected children.  Yet some parents in Wales continue to avoid getting their children immunized because of their fears of the combined measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine.  Mumps can cause meningitis, deafness, and, in some cases, can spread to the testes, causing infertility problems in later life.  Dr. Kay Saunders, a general practitioner in Butetown, Cardiff, said the low uptake in the MMR has officials equally concerned about measles and rubella emerging and similarly spreading to the younger children as well.  Most of the children who have fallen ill thus far never received a mumps-containing vaccine or only received one dose of MMR.  Just 72 percent of children in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot have received the MMR vaccine, and overall MMR coverage across Wales is just 83.8 percent.

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ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.