http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/health/story.jsp?story=120507
Doctor challenged over MMR claim
By Cahal Milmo
18 February 2002
The doctor who first claimed that the MMR vaccine
could be linked to autism and bowel disease in children has been asked by the
Government to hand over his research for independent analysis.
The Department of Health insisted yesterday that
the request to Dr Andrew Wakefield from Professor Sir Liam Donaldson, the chief
medical officer, did not represent a U-turn over the controversial injections.
Sir Liam made the suggestion in response to an
e-mail sent by Dr Wakefield last week, which claimed further research would
soon be published questioning the measles, mumps and rubella jabs.
Concern over the vaccinations has led to a decline
in uptake rates and measles outbreaks in parts of the country despite repeated
assertions from health officials and ministers that MMR is safe.
At the weekend, a commercial health company started
offering single vaccinations costing £80 each at a clinic in Darlington, Co
Durham, in the constituency of Alan Milburn, the Health Secretary.
The Department of Health said it had replied to Dr
Wakefield's e-mail by sending him a list of questions on his research and
requesting that his data and samples be scrutinised by independent scientists.
Officials said they were not asking for Dr
Wakefield's assistance or to share his research – a move that would represent a
change in direction after claiming that his findings were unproved.
A Department of Health spokeswoman said: "This
is not a U-turn. Professor Donaldson has asked a wide range of questions about
the methods used in Dr Wakefield's research which experts have concerns
about."
The department added that Dr Wakefield had not yet
responded to its request for access to his research and denied suggestions that
the national health service was considering offering single-dose jabs.
Sir Liam has asked the doctor to clarify a
statement that some of the children featured in his study had received a
single-dose measles vaccine.
Dr Wakefield told The Mail on Sunday that he
hoped the Government's move represented a "new attitude" to the MMR
debate.
Also from the Health
section.
MMR fears lead to six-month wait for
parents seeking single vaccines
Doctor to make £40,000 from single MMR
jabs
Early warning devised for heart disease
Nurse wins landmark compensation from her
hospital after stillborn birth
Revealed: car fumes give children asthma
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