http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/324/7346/1118/e
| Home | Help | Search/Archive | Feedback | Table of Contents |
|
||||||
 Collections under
which this article appears: Drugs:
immunological products and vaccines Adverse
drug reactions |
Bryan Christie Edinburgh
An expert group’s review of the use of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine in Scotland has concluded that it is the best method of protecting children against these diseases.
The group also rejected the use of single vaccines, after finding that they have no safety advantages and are likely to be less effective in immunising children.
Uptake of the MMR vaccine fell throughout the United Kingdom after unconfirmed reports of a link between the vaccine and cases of autism and inflammatory bowel disease. Some 3000 parents who believe that their children were damaged by MMR are pursuing legal action against the manufacturers, and some parents have demanded that their children be given single vaccines.
However, the expert group, made up of medical and other specialists, parents, and representatives of autism support groups, has concluded that the current scientific evidence does not support a link between the triple vaccine and autism.
The group was appointed eight months ago by the Scottish Executive to investigate the apparent rise in cases of autism, the safety of the MMR vaccine, and the consequences of pursuing an alternative vaccination policy. Its report has found that the triple vaccine is the safest option, although it calls on the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation to keep vaccination contraindications under review.
"The case for making single vaccines available by popular choice cannot be sustained on the basis of available scientific evidence," the group adds. The fact that six injections would be needed in the case of single vaccines instead of the present two for MMR increases the risk of children not completing the full course.
The group’s chairman, Graham Forbes, said it was not possible to definitely exclude a link between MMR and autism, because "you can’t prove a negative." However, he added: "We have looked at all the alternatives to MMR and have found none that would be more effective."
The report expresses concern at the rise in cases of autistic spectrum disorder, although it remains unclear whether this rise results from changes in diagnostic practice and better awareness or an actual increase in incidence. Whatever the reason, the report says, urgent action is needed to improve the range and quality of services for affected children and their families.
The report also calls for more funding for research into the causes of autism and inflammatory bowel disease and for better information for parents on MMR and the diseases it protects against.
Scottish health minister Malcolm Chisholm announced that he was accepting all the group’s recommendations in principle and that in particular he would work to improve services to families, provide better information for parents, and invest in research.
He said the MMR programme was saving lives and would continue in Scotland. "I understand the concerns that parents have over the publicity given to this issue, but the balance of medical and scientific opinion remains with MMR and I will not take a decision to reverse one of the great public health success stories of the century."
The MMR Expert Group’s report is available at
www.show.scot.nhs.uk/mmrexpertgroup/
|
||||||
|
Collections under
which this article appears:Drugs:
immunological products and vaccines Adverse
drug reactions |
Read all Rapid Responses
| Home | Help | Search/Archive | Feedback | Table of Contents |
ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND
MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION
PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS
OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR
LEGAL ADVICE. THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND
COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH
YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.