Parents flock to single-jab clinics

Clinics offering single versions of the controversial measles, mumps and rubella jab have been inundated with requests from parents as the pressure grows on the Government to drop its opposition to individual vaccines.

Demand has soared in recent weeks, while Prime Minister Tony Blair has refused to confirm his 20-month-old son Leo has had the controversial combined MMR jab.

It has been reported that Leo has recently been given the jab, which some researchers have linked to serious medical disorders such as autism and bowel disease. But Mr Blair's refusal to give a clear, personal endorsement of MMR appears to have increased scepticism among parents.

Direct Health 2000, an Eltham clinic which has been offering single jabs for 18 months, took 3,000 calls from parents inquiring about the vaccines in the first three weeks of January.

Sarah Dean, director of the private clinic, told the Standard: "We've been inundated with requests. Parents are saying to us, 'Why should Tony Blair tell us what to do if he can't tell us that his son has had the MMR jab.'"

Mrs Dean, a former practice nurse, added: "Parents are prepared to pay privately for the single jabs, but that should be made easier, or we will continue to see parts of London where only 60 per cent of children are protected from these diseases."