Ananova:

Tony Blair has insisted there is not a "scrap of evidence anywhere" to suggest the MMR vaccine should not be used.

He has also told the Commons the controversial triple vaccine should be retained in its present form to provide the necessary "coverage".

Tory former minister Sir Sydney Chapman invited the Prime Minister to distance himself from Mayor Ken Livingstone's advice to London parents not to use the vaccine.

He warned take-up in the capital had reached a "record low" - only 70% of parents in his constituency had sanctioned it for their children.

"The number of cases of measles in our capital city has quadrupled over the past year," Sir Sydney said.

"As these two events are not unconnected will you take this opportunity of publicly dissociating yourself from the remarks of the Mayor of London who is advising London parents not to give children the jab?"

Mr Blair said: "I don't agree obviously with what was said by the Mayor," adding: "What should be made very, very clear is this: there is not a shred of evidence anywhere that the MMR jab is anything but the right course to take.

"It is employed in 90 countries round the world, in America, Europe, everywhere. It is absolutely essential that we retain it and retain it indeed in its present form since that is the best way to get the coverage necessary to deal with these diseases."

Many parents have refused to let their children have the jab because of an alleged link to autism.

Story filed: 17:13 Wednesday 17th July 2002

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