UK health officer denies risk of measles epidemic

The British government’s chief medical officer today denied there was a risk of a measles epidemic because of fears about the controversial MMR vaccine.

Prime Minister Tony Blair and his ministers came under fire last month for not revealing whether their own children had been immunised with the combined measles, mumps and rubella jab, which has been linked to autism by some researchers.

Although Mr Blair gave his support for the vaccine, there has been concern that the row has led to a decrease in children being inoculated, which could prompt a measles epidemic.

Professor Sir Liam Donaldson, who today revealed a rise in infectious diseases in the country, said the MMR was a safe and effective vaccine.

Asked if he was worried about a measles epidemic, Sir Liam said: ‘‘No I’m not. In the year that I was born, 1949, there were nearly 500,000 cases of measles. Today it’s down around 50 or 60.

‘‘It isn’t increasing a great deal. We’ve been spectacularly successful and so has every other country of the world in combating measles, so we’re in a very, very strong position,’’ he said.

‘‘Our latest information suggests that there hasn’t been any further significant fall in uptake of the vaccine. We have a very safe effective vaccine, it has saved children’s lives around the world and we want to stay in that strong position.

‘‘We have in place one of the most comprehensive and effective childhood vaccination programmes in the world and we’ve got to keep it like that.

‘‘Many children are alive today because of the modern vaccination programme that’s protecting children around the world.’’

Ministers had been clear-cut in giving their support for the vaccine and had accepted the very strong body of evidence that MMR is a safe, effective vaccine, Sir Liam added.

‘‘People are entitled to their privacy, and I don’t think we should pressurise. We’ve had some very clear statements of support.’’