The number of UK toddlers vaccinated with the triple-action measles, mumps and rubella vaccine has reached its lowest level since 1990, according to government figures released on Thursday.
Only 87.0 per cent of children who reached their second birthday between April 2000 and April 2001 were vaccinated with the controversial MMR jab, compared with 87.6 per cent in the previous 12 months.
Additional data, released from the UK鈥檚 Public Health Laboratory Service, shows that between April and June 2001, the percentage of two year olds vaccinated with MMR dropped even further, to 84.2 per cent. For nationwide protection of children, 95 per cent must be immunised.
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The MMR vaccination was introduced in 1988 and has been accused of causing autism in a small number of children. Some parents have opted to not immunise their children, pushing instead for separate single vaccines, which do not confer the same level of protection. Cases of measles and mumps in the UK have shown a dramatic increase, as the percentage of immunised children has decreased.
Holding back
鈥淭he new data suggests that parents are still holding back from using the MMR vaccination,鈥� says Helen Bedford of St George鈥檚 Hospital in London.
David Elliman, a community paediatrician also at St George鈥檚 Hospital in London says: 鈥淭he MMR vaccination rate needs to be higher. Some parents work on the basis that they might get away with not getting their children immunised. But they won鈥檛.
鈥淢easles is so infectious, if you鈥檙e unvaccinated, you will get it eventually 鈥� and if that eventually is when you鈥檙e a young adult, it鈥檚 very much worse than as a child.鈥�
Mumps is also more dangerous in older children, potentially causing inflammation of the brain or pancreas. 鈥淚t鈥檚 very important that all parents go for the MMR,鈥� Elliman says.