Feb 27 2002

By Jonathan Walker, Birmingham Post

A Birmingham MP who nearly died due to measles as a baby condemned critics of the MMR vaccine as "irresponsible" yesterday.

Lynne Jones (Lab Selly Oak) said the risks of refusing to immunise children with the triple vaccination were far greater than the risks of accepting the treatment.

She was speaking in an adjournment debate in the House of Commons on the controversy surrounding the measles, mumps and rubella injection, known as MMR.

Julie Kirkbride (Con Bromsgrove) argued that the NHS should offer parents a choice between single injections and MMR.

A study has linked MMR to autism, although most independent medical organisations insist the injection is safe. Ms Kirkbride has refused to allow her 16-month-old son Angus to receive the triple injection.

He is being treated with separate injections instead. And last year she put the spotlight on Tony Blair, demanding he reveal whether his son Leo had received the MMR injection.

Yesterday she led a debate in which she called on the Government to "live in the real world" and recognise the fact that many parents did not trust MMR, rightly or wrongly.

In the circumstances, the best way to ensure as many children as possible were immunised was to allow parents to choose the treatment they wanted, she said.

However Dr Jones told the debate she nearly died as an infant from pneumonia arising from measles, and condemned Ms Kirkbride. She said: "I think she is being very irresponsible in the way she is raising issues.

"Of course there is concern. But the fact is that the risks associated with not having the MMR jab are far greater than the risks associated with having it."

Peter Bradley (Lab The Wrekin) said that, as a parent, he was angry with Ms Kirkbride as well as with the media.

"In the face of overwhelming evidence that MMR is safe, some newspapers have sensationalised largely refuted research by one doctor, and some opposition MPs I'm sorry to say have jumped on the bandwagon."

The medical establishment was certain MMR was safe, he said.

The focus on Leo Blair gave the impression that Mr Blair was the expert on MMR when the views of medical professionals were far more important, he said.

"I would suggest some elements of the press and indeed some members should search their consciences."

Ms Kirkbride said: "Single vaccinations used to be available on the NHS until this Government came to power in 1997 and the Department of Health then changed the guidance, and only MMR was then available. That was a fatal mistake."

Even if MMR was safe the Government should "live in the real world" and recognise the fact that parents did not trust it. I don't believe it will be effective in persuading parents to do something that goes against their gut instincts," said Ms Kirkbride.

She added: "The way we do boost immunisation levels is to give parents a choice."

The triple vaccination was being blamed for causing autism in a court action bought by 2,000 parents, she said.

She was supported by Bill Wiggin (Con Leominster) who said: "We are not debating whether MMR is good or bad. We are debating whether we can give people a choice."

While the proportion of children being immunised continued to fall "lives are being put at risk", he said.

Health Minister Yvette Cooper said offering single vaccinations would create three problems.

Some children would not get all three injections, there would be a gap between injections during which children were vulnerable to illness, and it would demolish confidence in MMR which was undoubtedly more effective than single jabs.