Cornwall parents buy single vaccine jabs

Hundreds of parents wanted single vaccinations

Parental fears over the controversial MMR vaccine has prompted a private health clinic to offer single vaccinations in Cornwall.

Direct Health 2000 says it is responding to hundreds of telephone calls from parents who want their children to have single measles, mumps and rubella vaccines instead of the combined MMR injection.

It organisesd "outreach vaccination" clinics in Truro on 7 April amid concerns the triple MMR jab is linked to autism and bowel disease.

The jabs cost £80 each, which works out at £240 for the full course of three.

Parents fear side effects of the MMR vaccine

Direct Health says it has already organised outreach clinics in Bristol, Swansea, Darlington and Dorset.

Almost half of the children attending the clinics are between the ages of two and four.

Direct Health 2000 spokeswoman Kathryn Durnford said: "This suggests to us there are a lot of unprotected children of pre-school age who are at a higher risk from catching measles and mumps.

"Also, the failure of Leo Blair's parents to be open about their son's vaccination has made matters worse."

Earlier this year, the government stepped up its publicity blitz to convince parents the vaccine is safe.

With increasing levels of autism within the UK, it's hardly surprising that parents are choosing single vaccinations rather than triple MMR vaccination

Kathryn Durnford, Direct Health 2000

The Prime Minister has battled to quell escalating parental fears that the triple jab can cause autism and bowel disease.

But the latest figures show UK-wide take-up of the jab plummeted to a record low between July and September 2001, with a coverage rate of just 84.2% compared with the Government's target of 95%.

Ms Durnford said: "Parents' concerns are still very high. Clearly this Government has not convinced parents that the triple vaccine is safe.

"With increasing levels of autism within the UK, it's hardly surprising that parents are choosing single vaccinations rather than triple MMR vaccination."

Appointments are being held at The Three Bridges School, Blackwater.