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Tories accuse minister over MMR vaccine

MPs have clashed over the safety of the MMR triple vaccine, as ministers were urged to give parents greater choice.

Tories have called for the NHS to offer single jabs against measles, mumps and rubella amid fears that take-up rates of the MMR vaccine are falling to dangerously low levels.

But Public Health Minister Yvette Cooper branded the Conservatives "irresponsible" for ditching the best medical advice and defended Government policy not to offer the choice.

As she opened a Westminster Hall debate, Julie Kirkbride, the Tory MP for Bromsgrove, argued that "the minister has undermined public confidence by not allowing public choice".

"The way we actually raise the number of children who are vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella is to give the parents choice that they actually want."

She told Ms Cooper to "accept life as it is rather than life as you would like it to be".

Shadow health spokesman Tim Loughton said it was "irresponsible" of the Government's Chief Medical Officer Professor Sir Liam Donaldson "to say taking a single jab is like playing Russian roulette".

"Concerned parents have now been added to the ranks of 'wreckers' and however much the minister may disagree with them, they have genuine fears, are exercising their power to opt-out if they see fit," he said.

"The Government needs urgently to restore confidence - until it can take every step to increase the coverage it should offer choice."

Story filed: 15:00 Tuesday 26th February 2002

ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.