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19.26PM
GMT, 2 Feb 2002
Health officials have again advised parents of the
importance of giving children the controversial MMR vaccine after an
outbreak of measles in London.
The advice
came as Downing Street again refused to comment on newspaper reports that
the Prime Minister's son Leo has finally been given the jab.
A
newspaper claimed that the 20-month-old baby had received the jab on
January 22 after a short delay caused by a minor illness.
But a
spokesman for Mr Blair insisted that no official confirmation of details of
Leo's medical treatment had been or would be given out, in order to protect
his privacy.
He said:
"The Prime Minister is unequivocal in his support for the MMR jab and
believes it has saved many lives and is safe."
Meanwhile
a south London health authority has announced it is investigating 25 cases
of viral illness among children, three of whom had been confirmed as having
measles.
None of
the infected children had been given the MMR injection, a Department of
Health spokesman said.
The Public
Health Laboratory revealed that take-up of the inoculation had dropped
below 85 per cent.
The use of
the MMR vaccine has declined sharply since a report linked it with the
development of autism in young children, although all leading medical
bodies insist that it is safe.
The
Department of Health has repeatedly insisted that the combined MMR, rather
than single injections, is the best and most effective way to protect children
against measles, mumps and rubella.
But about
2000 families in Britain have taken legal action, claiming their children
have been damaged by the jab.
There is
concern that if 95 per cent vaccination rates are not achieved there will
be epidemics of the three childhood diseases.
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