Jun 17 2002
 

Birmingham Post

A Midland MP yesterday urged the Government not to dismiss new evidence linking autism and bowel disorders to the controversial MMR jab.

Irish scientists found a strain of the measles virus used in the vaccine, in tissue samples taken from the inflamed intestines of 12 children.

Every member of the group has developed autism since being given the injection.

Pathologist Professor John O'Leary, and his researchers at Trinity College, in Dublin, believe their findings raise urgent questions over the vaccine's role in the children's condition.

Julie Kirkbride (Con Bromsgrove), who is campaigning for single jabs to be made available on the NHS, said she feared the Government would not take the findings seriously.

Ms Kirkbride's Private Members' Bill to ensure parents are given the legal right to opt for single vaccinations on the NHS is due to receive its second reading in the Commons on Friday.

However, she said, she feared the Government's stance and its reluctance to consider new evidence on the issue would hinder her chances of success.

Ms Kirkbride said: "The latest research is a very worrying development because so far the work done by John O'Leary and Andrew Wakefield (who first suggested a link between MMR and autism) has been dismissed by the medical establishment.

"But this is yet more evidence to show that the measles found in the jab is another piece of the jigsaw linking MMR with autism.

"I fear that the Government's reaction will be the same as before, to use every lever at its disposal to get the medical establishment to denounce these findings.

"I very much hope they will finally accept there's an urgent need for more research, which should focus on children who are already damaged in this way.

"Every time I call for the single vaccinations to be made available on the NHS, I am accused by the Labour backbench loyalists of trying to impede confidence in MMR and paving the way for children to die of measles.

"That is an outrageous slur and clearly untrue."

The announcement of Prof O'Leary's findings, which are due to be presented to the Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland next month, comes days after the Government seized on more research which bolsters its claims that the MMR vaccine is safe.

In an earlier study, Prof O'Leary found an unknown measles virus in gut biopsies from 71 of 90 autistic children with bowel problems.

His team claims the latest results corroborates its earlier research linking measles with autism.

Ms Kirkbride, whose 17-month-old son Angus was given single vaccinations at the Desumo private clinic in Worcester, said she was not confident the Government would take these findings seriously.

A number of parents who want an alternative to the MMR jab are planning legal action against the Government and Ms Kirkbride said: "I suspect the Government will not take notice of this issue until the Department of Health is taken to court by 2,000 angry parents next year.

"I don't understand the Government's position in the face of mounting scientific research that gives every parent cause for concern.

"I'll be lucky if my Bill even gets its second reading on Friday because I know Labour don't support it.

"But I shall continue campaigning for single vaccinations regardless of whether it's heard or not."

The combined MMR vaccine, which contains live measles, mumps and rubella virus, was launched in 1988 and is given to infants aged 12-15 months up to four years.

Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson has expressed fears that single vaccinations may result in parents failing to complete the full course, which could lead to a resurgence of measles, mumps and rubella.

Dr Andrew Wakefield, a consultant gastroenterologist, first uncovered the possible link between MMR and autism in

1998. He resigned from his job at the Royal Free Hospital in London earlier this year amid claims he had been forced out over the MMR controversy.

He said: "Prof O'Leary and colleagues have now provided what may prove to be the most important piece of evidence to date in the case against the MMR vaccine.

"Parents must be given at the very least a choice of single vaccines.

"Not to do so in the face of this data and all the other evidence we have now published would be negligent in the extreme."

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