Experts clash over MMR

Two eminent doctors have clashed over the safety of the MMR vaccine during a debate aimed at reassuring the public.

Professor Brent Taylor said there was no evidence linking the jab with autism and bowel disease and that parents should immunise their children, protecting them from measles, mumps and rubella. But Dr Richard Nicholson said not enough research had been done into the controversial vaccine.

Professor Taylor, of the Royal Free Hospital, has taken part in numerous studies. He told the meeting: "Thorough tests have shown that the MMR vaccine is completely safe and there has never been any evidence found to suggest that it causes autism or bowel disease. A lot of the uncertainty has been blown up and, with parents not taking up the MMR vaccine for their children, we will be facing an epidemic of measles and other diseases that could cause death because of this."

However, his claim was disputed by fellow speaker Dr Nicholson, editor of the Bulletin of Medical Ethos, who backed parents' fears and their demand for single jabs to be made available on the NHS. "There simply hasn't been enough research into the

MMR vaccine and its possible side effects to let parents have peace of mind," he said. "I'm all for immunisation but, because of a lack of answers and not enough research, there is now an-all-or-nothing situation.

"Parents faced with the worry of not really knowing if MMR is okay take the option of doing nothing. That's not right and they should be able to have the choice of having the vaccine singly rather then altogether."

The public debate, organised by the Islington Community Health Council and chaired by local MP Jeremy Corbyn, saw parents, doctors and groups such as the Parents Autism Campaign for Education, voice their fears over the whole MMR debate.

Magda Taylor, from Harrow, has a 13-year-old daughter who has had the MMR vaccine and a 11-year-old daughter who has not.

She said: "I would never have challenged MMR years ago. You go along and have your child immunised because you want them to be safe. No one told you anything different.

"Suddenly it comes to light that there could be a problem, so I investigated it. The not-knowing has prompted me to not immunise my second daughter in the same way."

London GP Dr Richard Halvorsen, who gives parents the choice at his Bloomsbury surgery by handing out the single vaccine as well as the MMR jab, said: "It's so important they have the choice, I feel the single vaccination is as effective as the MMR, if not more so."

Despite Professor Taylor's evidence and government campaigns to reassure parents, many at the meeting still said they were worried about the risks of MMR - however small.

Su Thomas, from north London, whose young son is autistic, said parents were not given enough information, while Martin Hewitt, who also has an autistic son, said: "There are many arguments as to what parents should do, but no one knows what is right, and that's what's causing so much concern."

Doctors have previously warned parents about possible outbreaks of measles, mumps and rubella unless children are vaccinated.

Earlier this year, three nurseries around Streatham reported an increase in mumps among children who had not had the MMR jab.