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March 03, 2003
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNIZATION NEWS
"MMR Is Blamed as Measles Cases Soar"
London Daily Mail (www.dailymail.co.uk) (02/28/03); Marsh, Beezy
In England, parental concern about the safety of the combined measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine has caused MMR coverage rates to drop significantly and outbreaks to occur. In South London, MMR vaccination rates have fallen below 75 percent, and nationwide the rate is just 83 percent. According to the Public Health Laboratory Service, there were 310 cases of measles confirmed in 2002, compared with 62 cases in the previous year, and there were also over 3,000 suspected cases of measles reported. The British Department of Health asserts that the combined MMR shot is safe and the best means of preventing three very serious childhood diseases. South London pediatrician Dr. David Elliman predicted last week that "if the trend [against vaccination] continues, we will see more cases and, inevitably, we will see children dying of measles, as well as serious complications from the disease."
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