GPs at a British Medical Association (BMA) conference in London endorsed the measles, mumps and rubella jab as the best way to protect children from those diseases.

But they said the system by which GPs are paid if they reach immunisation targets had increased parental distrust in medical advice about MMR.

They "deplored" the chief medical officers (CMOs) backing for the system and supported a motion calling on them to resign over the issue.

The conference agreed it was indefensible to deny separate jabs to children given the public concern over MMR. However, they did not vote on whether to make this BMA policy because of a lack of evidence about the safety and effectiveness of the individual vaccines.

Chichester GP Grant Kelly said, as the highest doctors in the country and ministerial advisers, the CMOs should take the blame for the payment policy under which doctors who fall short of immunisation targets are penalised financially.

Manchester GP Dr Jeffrey Moysey added that while the government prided itself on spin and presentation it had failed to persuade the public about the safety of MMR or provide a credible alternative.

Dr Moysey said the payment system meant patients felt doctors had a vested interest in reporting MMR.

"All of us believe that the take up of MMR should never be linked to practice income," he added.

Failure to act over MMR could leave a generation of children vulnerable to these dangerous diseases, he warned.

Dr Andy Stewart, from Cornwall, said: "I believe the MMR vaccine to be absolutely safe. I believe it to be the most effective and sensible way to protect children."

But he said that many parents were unconvinced and so the next best option was to provide separate vaccines.

He criticised the English CMO, Professor Sir Liam Donaldson, for refusing to allow the provision of separate vaccines as "dictatorial and potentially damaging to children".

Should parents be allowed access to single vaccinations? Would you allow your child to have the MMR jab?

 

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07.08.2002: Demand surges for MMR single vaccines
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06.02.2002: Q&A: measles and MMR

 

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