Parents being dangerously misled over MMR vaccine, warn experts

THIRTY leading experts in Britain have issued an urgent plea to draw a line under any supposed link between the MMR vaccine and autism.

In an open letter to the media, politicians and health professionals, they said parents had been “confused and dangerously misled” over the risks associated with the triple jab that protects against measles, mumps and rubella.

Only a few months ago, the first death of a child from measles was reported since 1992. The experts warned that if the current low levels of immunisation continued, more children would become ill and die.

“It is not too late to avert this predictable tragedy,” they wrote. “It is time that due weight is given to the overwhelming body of scientific evidence in favour of the vaccine.

“Misguided concepts of ‘balance’ have confused and dangerously misled parents. We all, media, politicians and health professionals, have a responsibility to protect the health of our children.”

The letter, from some of Britain’s top paediatricians and childhood vaccination experts, was issued through the Science Media Centre.

It was prompted by a recent flurry of media reports reigniting concerns about the safety of MMR.

One report concerned a US study that found the measles virus in the guts of children with autism.

A statement from the principle researcher that the research did not prove a link with the MMR vaccine was largely ignored.

“We are now faced with a potentially serious situation,” said the experts.

“Years of low uptake mean large numbers of unprotected children are entering school. Unless this is rectified urgently, and children are immunised, there will be further outbreaks and more unnecessary deaths.”