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Parents who have chosen to give their children
single vaccines rather than the controversial MMR jab learned yesterday
that a world shortage of one of the vaccines will jeopardise their
children's health.
Around 1,000 youngsters across the region have
started on a programme of single measles, mumps and rubella jabs, with
private clinics brought to the region by popular demand, because of
concerns that the triple MMR jab was linked to autism and bowel
disorders.
The first children to start on the programme were
due to have their last injection, for mumps, in early November, but the
clinics cannot obtain enough vaccines so this week they sent letters out
to parents to delay appointments.
The main single jab outlet, Direct Health 2000,
claims the Government has intervened to put pressure on vaccine
suppliers, resulting in an inconsistent supply of the vaccines until at
least January.
And public health experts say that as a result
children who have not finished their course of single injections will be
at risk of catching mumps, which is circulating at a higher rate than
normal in the North-East.
The Department of Health denied the allegations and
said its intention was always to protect and safeguard children's
health.
Debbie Cole, 39, of Crofter Close, Annitsford,
Northumberland, launched an appeal to find 100 children to have single
vaccines and bring the private clinic to the region when it came to
vaccinating her two-year-old daughter Jennifer.
She was inundated with requests and up to 1,000
children in the region are currently on the scheme she set up.
She said: "It's very disappointing and worrying
that children will be exposed to mumps. We never expected this kind of
hitch and I'm convinced the Government has put pressure on vaccine
producers to make it difficult to obtain the vaccine."
Leigh and Kevin Scully have given their
15-month-old son Taylor the measles and rubella vaccines and intend to
wait for the mumps vaccine.
They set up a single vaccine clinic and 30 children
are now due their mumps vaccine. Their company Direct Remedies hope to
have the vaccines in November but don't have a definite date.
Leigh, 30, of Tenbury Crescent, North Shields,
said: "I'm very cross the Government have interfered again. They are
determined to stop us having the single vaccines, now I have to supply
the clinic with the name of every child so we can get them imported."
A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said:
"There is no single mumps vaccine licensed in the UK but we have not put
pressure on any companies who produce it.
"The best way to protect children against measles
mumps and rubella is with the combined vaccine - that is based on all
the scientific evidence, that has always been our advice."
MMR take up rates in the North-East are higher than
elsewhere at 86.1pc but the incidence of mumps in the region is
increasing.
Dr Nicol Black said: "I can understand parents'
concerns if their children have not been immunised against mumps - it is
an extremely unpleasant disease which I would not wish on any baby and
it can have serious neurological side-effects. But it would be perfectly
safe for children who have started on single vaccines to have the MMR
combined at any stage - parents do have that option."
Rob Metcalfe, PR manager for Direct Health 2000,
said: "The Government has tried to restrict us at every turn, they told
parents having single vaccines would be difficult and then they made it
difficult for us." |