Calls for compulsory jab as MMR increases
Date published: 03 June 2009
It could soon be compulsory for parents to prove their child has had the MMR vaccination, which guards against measles, mumps and rubella, before starting school.
The British Medical Association has today suggested that the MMR jab should be made compulsory.
Sir Sandy Macara, former chairman of the British Medical Association (BMA) has submitted a report for a debate at the BMA’s conference later this month.
The number of children being given the vaccine plummeted after research wrongly linked it to an increased risk of autism.
The Health Protection Agency renewed its plea for parents to get their children to have the jab after 40 cases of measles and 276 cases of mumps were confirmed in the North West in the first three months of the year.
Dr Rosemary McCann, the agency’s North West immunisation lead, said: “We’re still seeing a lot of measles and mumps in many parts of the region.
“The only way we’re going to eliminate these infections is by working with parents, schools, colleges and universities to encourage MMR uptake.”
Every child should be vaccinated at 13 months and given a booster before going to school, however, one in four children under five have not had both injections.
Do you have a story for us?
Let us know by emailing news@rochdaleonline.co.uk
All contact will be treated in confidence.
Most Viewed News Stories
- 1Rochdale Online Ltd has ceased trading
- 2Man killed in M62 crash after car hits bridge at junction 19
- 3The land has laid dormant for years, now £15m could help see it transformed
- 4Abandoned shopping centre to be brought back to life as a banqueting hall
- 5GMP detain carjacker minutes after committing burglary in Rochdale
To contact the Rochdale Online news desk, email news@rochdaleonline.co.uk or visit our news submission page.
To get the latest news on your desktop or mobile, follow Rochdale Online on Twitter and Facebook.