§ Lord Clement-Jonesasked Her Majesty's Government:
In the light of the coverage of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination for children of 16 and 24 months continuing at a lower level than in years prior to 1997, as reported in Communicable Disease Report of 29 January, and in the light of reduced parental confidence in the safety of MMR vaccine, as shown by Health Education Authority tracking studies, what plans they have to permit parents to choose single vaccines for mumps, measles and rubella. [HL1971]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Baroness Hayman)We have no plans to supply single vaccines for mumps, measles and rubella through the National Health Service.
The use of single mumps, measles and rubella vaccines in place of MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) is not recommended. It is not supported by any studies into its safety or efficacy, nor is there any evidence that doing this has any benefit and, indeed, it may even be harmful. MMR is the safest way for parents to protect their children against measles, mumps and rubella.
168WAThe small fall in MMR coverage has now stabilised. The Communicable Disease Report of 26 March 1999 showed that the latest figures, for October to December 1998, were the same as in the previous quarter. Coverage is now similar to that seen in the early 1990s.