The controversial presence of Direct Health 2000 attracted criticism late last week from the South Eastern Health Board’s public health specialist, Dr. Neville De Souza, who warned that the single vaccinations - the measles jabs are to be followed by doses aimed at preventing mumps and rubella - are unlicensed.

“The single component vaccines are not licensed in this country, so they are not monitored by the Irish Medicines Board and their safety, quality and effectiveness cannot be assured.” Dr. De Souza said a child could remain susceptible to the illnesses involved without the full vaccination. “The single component vaccine puts the children and their families at unnecessary risk because the delay in getting three separate vaccines could be six months to a year and the children could get the diseases involved while they are waiting. “A child also has to be brought for three separate injections so the likelihood of completing the course is reduced.”

However, adverse coverage on local and national radio did not prevent the parents of some 60 children bringing their offspring to the Woodlands Hotel in Waterford on Saturday and Sunday. Anumber of first-floor bedrooms at the hotel were transformed into a waiting room and clinics for the company who normally operate from premises in Liverpool and at Eltham in south east London. Sarah Dean, chief executive of Direct Health 2000, was quick to deny any suggestions that the company were seeking to profit from the fears of parents over the safety of the MMR vaccine which has been associated with autism and irritable bowel disease.

“If we were here to rip parents off, fees would be much higher. We are aware of doctors elsewhere in Ireland providing individual vaccines and they charge considerably more than our €375 fee for the three vaccines, which are administered 12 weeks apart. “After the media maelstrom last week, we anticipated that the Irish Medicines Board or the South Eastern Health Board might have visited our clinics, but as of now [3pm, Sunday] they have not done so. Unfortunately, Irish health officials seem unable to grasp the concept of freedom of choice.”

Ms Dean, herself a registered nurse and mother-of-five, was particularly angry about one of the suggestions put forward by Dr. De Souza. “A concern the authorities have expressed is that parents may not bring their children for the rubella and mumps vaccines after this weekend’s measles clinic. This is grossly unfair to parents who are not morons and will do the best by their children. “In fact, we have been impressed with just how well-informed parents are before coming here. They have the confidence to make an informed decision in their child’s best interests. “We now look forward to returning in March when we will administer the rubella vaccine to those children who received the measles vaccine this weekend. There were also some children who weren’t well enough to receive the first course this weekend and they are also due back in March.”

With that, Ms Dean welcomed another set of anxious parents to the makeshift waiting room. Michael and Michelle Carey had driven 100km from Mitchelstown, Co Cork with their two-year-old daughter Rebecca. Having paid €250 in cash for the first two vaccines, Mr. Carey explained how the couple had read about Direct Health 2000 in a local newspaper.

“We are pretty convinced that there is a link between the MMR vaccine and autism in children. Because of this, we are much happier to go this route although it obviously involves some expense and three 200km round trips over the next six months or so with Rebecca due back here on March 2nd.”

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