Feb 7 2002

WALES is entitled to go its own way on the controversial MMR vaccine, it emerged last night.

As pressure grows on the Government to review its refusal to sanction single jabs, National Assembly officials revealed that Wales does not have to follow the English line.

Last night the Conservatives at the National Assembly said they would call for parents to be allowed to choose if MMR take-up rates here were plummeting as they are in England.

Since 1988 when the MMR vaccine was introduced the number of suspected cases of measles, mumps and rubella in Wales have tumbled. In 1989-1999 the number fell from almost 3,900 to 261 and most of those proved to be another illness. Last year there was only one confirmed case of measles in Wales.

But the number of children diagnosed with autism across Britain is rising. Dr Kenneth Aitken, a special-ist in the treatment of autism, said he was concerned there was a link.

He said, "We've gone from one in 2,500 when I was training to one in 250 now. At the moment the only logical explanation is MMR."

Last night Tory health spokesman David Melding said he was still in favour of MMR, but added, "In England the take-up rates of MMR are down to 84pc. I want to know whether we in Wales have the same problem.

Mr Melding is waiting on a response from Wales's chief medical officer Ruth Hall, but his move will be a boost for pro-choice parents because in some parts of Wales the take-up rate is already below 80pc.

Victims' parents - page 2