Health bosses in North East Lincolnshire are still concerned about the low take-up of the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine.

A drop in children receiving the combined MMR jab has been blamed on fears it may be linked to autism and bowel disease.

But at a Primary Care Trust (PCT) meeting, officials dismissed the links and urged parents to ensure their children are vaccinated.

Dr Terry Matthews, consultant in communicable diseases at the PCT, said the initial study which suggested MMR was unsafe had been rejected.

"In all the scientific and medical literature, the argument is over," he said.

"Childhood immunisation remains a safe and highly effective preventive intervention for protecting the health of individuals and populations."

Uptake of the MMR jab has fallen to between 85 and 90 per cent for two year olds in recent years, although a recent rise has seen it begin to recover to 89 per cent.

Dr Matthews said: "About two years ago there was a serious decline in the uptake, but the figures have shown some recovery recently.

"But we need to get it back up to 95 per cent so we don't suffer the kind of outbreak we have seen in London and elsewhere.

"We have taken several initiatives to halt the decline, including targeting groups like midwives and nursery nurses."

Figures in North East Lincolnshire compare favourably with the rest of the country, with only 83 per cent of two year olds receiving the jab nationally.

Dr Matthews said the PCT also offers vaccines against diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, meningitis and tuberculosis.

"We would strongly advise all parents to ensure their children are protected against all these diseases by attending for immunisation," he said.

"It is vital parents realise these diseases have not gone away - they can and do return, particularly when immunisation rates fall."