PARENTS faced with agonising doubts about whether to give their youngsters the MMR jab were left even more bewildered yesterday.

The results of yet another UK study into autism suggested there is a connection between the triple vaccine and the brain disorder.

Scientist Paul Shattock, director of Sunderland University’s Autism Research Unit, says his team’s tests on 4,000 cases suggests a link exists.

But a Health Department spokesman said last night: “As Paul Shattock himself said on the Today programme, this research is work in progress and has not yet been published or subject to scrutiny by other scientists.”

Mr Shattock, who has an autistic son, had stressed his research was only a “snapshot” which cannot be conclusive and last night warned parents not to panic.

His findings only came to light earlier this week when he gave evidence to a Commons committee.

Just four months ago a study by London’s Royal Free Hospital, which was published in the British Medical Journal, claimed there was no link between MMR and autism.

Mr Shattock is demanding a Government-funded inquiry to establish the safety of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine once and for all.

He said: “This confusion has gone on too long. We need a conclusive study so doctors can tell parents yes or no when asked if there’s a link between MMR and autism.”

His study examined urine from 4,000 autistic children. Four hundred of those have parents who blame the condition on MMR.

Those 400 samples were found to be chemically different from the rest. Mr Shattock said: “This group of children had different compounds in their urine to typical autism sufferers.

“We need to find out if MMR is the connection or if it is something else.”

Three people in the study claimed measles itself triggered their child’s autism — not the MMR — and ten claimed it was the single measles vaccine.

Mr Shattock told the Sun: “The studies we’ve done don’t go far enough and are insufficiently robust for publication in medical journals.

“We’ve presented them for discussion.

“We have now developed a more specific method for this study and more results will be available in three months.”

The MMR debate has been raging since February 1998 when research led by Dr Andrew Wakefield first suggested the triple vaccine might be linked to an increased risk of autism and bowel disorders.

Since then thousands of parents have worried that the MMR jab given to their kids at 13-15 months could be damaging them.

Mr Shattock said: “Until there is concrete evidence parents need to have the choice of a single vaccine on the NHS.”

This demand is backed by the National Autistic Society.

But respected bodies like the British Medical Association and the World Health Organisation disagree. They believe MMR is still the safest way to protect children.

Mr Shattock said: “I personally think there is a link between MMR and autism but I hope I’m proved wrong.

“For most, MMR is not a problem. But for those with autism in the family or other reasons to be concerned, such as a lot of allergies, hyper-activity or an immunity dysfunction, they should be given the choice of a single jab.”

Mr Shattock’s autistic son did not have the MMR triple vaccination because he was born in 1971 and the jab was introduced in October 1988.

Before 1988 children had a single measles vaccination at about 15 months and a rubella jab at around the age of 12.

They were not vaccinated against mumps on the NHS until MMR was introduced.

The Health Department spokesman added: “The Government has pledged £2.5million towards research into the causes of autism.

“We will continue to keep all the evidence under review.
“Our advice remains that MMR is the best way to protect children against measles, mumps and rubella.”

Mr Shattock admits his findings are not yet authorative enough to be assessed by other scientists.

The Government insists that children should still be given the triple jab, claiming it is the safest option.

But while fears remain, more evidence needs to be gathered to put parents’ minds at rest once and for all.