MMR: Doctors debate on delivery

MMR is back on the agenda today as doctors debate how the jab should be delivered.

The British Medical Association will debate ending the practice of paying doctors a £3000 bonus if 90% of babies on their books have the MMR.

Watch the debate on Breakfast after at 0815 BST.

We talk to Isabella Thomas who's a campaigner against the MMR.

And to a GP, Dr Michael Fitzpatrick.

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Isabella Thomas has 4 boys, the eldest two of whom have autism with other medical problems.

She's a spokesperson for the anti-MMR group, JABS (Justice Awareness and Basic Support).

She's currently suing the drug company involved.

She says her two eldest children had the MMR jab and both have developed chronic bowel disease, signs of epilepsy and autism.

These two are very sick and deteriorating all the time.

Some of the children JABS are aware of are 'undoubtedly dying' and one has passed away.

Neither of Isabella's OTHER two sons has become autistic and nor have they had MMR.

She says the NHS has just ignored her - no-one from the health service has examined her boys with a view to seeing whether there may be a link between MMR and their condition.

She would fully support a public inquiry into the issue.

For many parents, it's now a case of single vaccines or nothing.

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Dr Michael Fitzpatrick says there is no causal link between MMR vaccine and autism.

He is scathing about the Wakefield report, which kicked off the MMR-autism scare - he says this was based on a series of a dozen cases, bringing down a very effective immunisation system.

All the media attention and claim followed by counter claim on MMR creates a lot of public anxiety.

The whole issue involves very complicated science and it's not easy - either for the press to simplify it, or the public to get to grips with it.

He thinks the testimony of a small but strong group of parents has been given undue prevalence.

The scientific work of those who say there is a link between MMR and autism has not been replicated by other studies, nor has the work been peer-reviewed.

He does not think GPs should receive payments if they reach their immunisation targets.

He is concerned that GPs may be seen as unbiased in that they receive a £3,000 govt bonus if they get their inoculation rate over 90%.

He feels this should be scrapped.