Thumbs up for compulsory MMR

The majority of people asked think that it is a good idea to make the MMR vaccinations compulsory, but some people it should be the decision of the parent if their child has the vaccination.

The British Medical Association has today suggested that the MMR jab should be made compulsory. There are even suggestions that parents will have to prove their children have had the vaccination before they start school.

Rochdale Online went on the streets to ask people what they think about the vaccination being compulsory.

Chris Holt said: “Everybody is entitled to make their own decision, however, in my opinion I think it is a good idea. It seems they are finally pushing the right thing.”

Mrs Ditchett said: “It is a good idea to be made compulsory, all my children had it when they were younger and there haven’t been any problems.”

Mrs Anstess said: “Both my children have had it as I feel there is more of a risk in not having it, than there is in having it.”

The plans to make the vaccinations compulsory have arisen because one in four children under five has not had both of the MMR jabs. As a result there has been a measles epidemic across the country and experts fear an epidemic is likely.

Although the idea of compulsory vaccination may seem controversial it is not uncommon in other parts of the world.

Patient confidence dropped in the 1998 after a study suggested there was a link between the vaccination and autism; consequently, however, these links were proved not to be true.

In a community such as Rochdale, 95 in 100 people must be vaccinated for there to be a ‘herd immunity’. This means that people who haven’t been vaccinated against the disease are protected from it because most people are vaccinated and can’t pass it on.

If you or your child is not vaccinated then you increase the chances that the diseases will stay in the community.

Eventually if enough people get vaccinated against a disease then there will no longer be a need for the vaccine.