Denying parents the choice of single vaccines as an alternative to the MMR jab is undemocratic, according to a former Scottish public health chief.

Dr David Player, who was director of the Scottish Health Education Group, predecessor to the Health Education Board for Scotland, believes the controversial triple jab for measles, mumps and rubella is safe but says the government cannot impose it on the public.

Dr Player, who was also director general of the Health Education Council for England and Wales, said: 'I am for the MMR but I do think single vaccines should be be available. Parents should be given a choice, certainly.

'In a democratic society as we are people should have the choice. To impose one way on people is fundamentally undemocratic.'

Dr Player believes the best way to persuade the public of the safety of the MMR is by example and is disappointed that Tony Blair could not tell the nation whether his own son Leo received the jab.

'When I was a GP and medical officer people would ask about the safety of vaccines and I would say that I would give it to my own children. I said that to parents and I think it made an impression on them.

'This comes back to Tony Blair. If he had been able to come out and say that his own child had the vaccine that would have helped.

'Instead he prevaricated. He still hasn't said yes or no. He ducked out of that.

'I think parents need more encouragement from the medical profession. If, when doctors were pushing the MMR, they said 'my own child has had it', that says more than anything else.'

Dr Player's comments come after Professor Phil Hanlon, director of the Public Health Institute of Scotland (PHIS) urged a rethink on the triple jab.

During a conference on child health at Heriot Watt University, in Edinburgh, Professor Hanlon told colleagues that the single vaccines option should be considered in light of falling MMR uptake rates.

The professor, who was appointed to the PHIS to help formulate public health policy, said that although he believes there is no link between the jab, autism and bowel disease, public health workers are privately split over the issue.

And last night a London GP who gives single vaccines on the NHS on a named-patient basis, said doctors are among those who come to him asking for single vaccines for their children.

Dr Richard Halvorsen said: 'I have had several doctors coming to me for single vaccines for their children. They are from a variety of different specialties and clearly they are concerned.

'The majority of doctors believe the MMR to be safe and would give it to their own children but the impression I have got is that there is a significant and growing minority who have doubts.'

John Sinclair, a consultant urological surgeon at the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow, has paid for his grandson to have single vaccines and says he knows other doctors who have done the same thing.

He said: 'I know of other doctors who have opted for single vaccines for their relatives but for professional reasons cannot speak out about it.'

Dr Peter Fletcher, who was a senior medical officer for the department of health in the early 1980s and assessor to the Committee on Safety of Medicines believes doctors are under pressure not to make their personal views known. 'I think those who are retired or are approaching retirement have more doubts about the wisdom of sticking to one form of vaccination.

'Anyone whose job is in some way closely related to the issue finds it more difficult to speak out. If you become too much at loggerheads with the local health authority or local GP group then you are inhibited. It is very difficult to know how much pressure is brought to bear.'

But the Scottish Executive last night made it clear that it has no intentions of changing its vaccination policy by making single vaccines available.

A spokeswoman said: 'Dr David Player is entitled to his opinion. Medical advice in the UK and throughout the world shows that the MMR is a safe and effective vaccine. We have no plans to change the established vaccination policy. Single vaccines with time lags between them leave a child at risk from MMR and could result in death of serious illness. This will have consequences for any other unprotected child or adult.'