Calls for compulsory jab as MMR increases

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.