§ Baroness Darcy de Knaythasked Her Majesty's Government:
What has been the annual rate of take-up of the mumps, measles and rubella (MMR) vaccine since its introduction; and, for each of those years, how many five year-olds were in the general population; and
How many cases of regressive autism have been diagnosed in children in each year since the introduction of (a) the MMR vaccine and (b) the measles and rubella (MR) vaccine.
66WA
§ Baroness Jay of PaddingtonMeasles, mumps and rubella (MMR) immunisation has been recommended for children aged 12 to 15 months since 1988. Coverage figures are therefore collected on the basis of children immunised with MMR vaccine by their second birthday. Since October 1996, a routine second dose MMR immunisation has been recommended for children as part of the pre-school booster programme. Uptake figures for the second dose are not yet available. Coverage figures and the numbers of five year-old children in the general population are given in the following tables.
Completed primary course: percentage of children immunised by their second birthday in England by financial year Year MMR take up rate 1995–96 92 1994–95 91 1993–94 91 1992–93 92 1991–92 90 1990–91 86 1989–90 68
Office for National Statistics mid-year resident population estimates in England Year Number of children age 5 1995 650,269 1994 645,311 1993 651,539 1992 631,071 1991 623,758 1990 619,623 1989 593,097 Data are not collected centrally on the number of cases of autism. It is primarily a matter for the statutory authorities to monitor arrangements for assessment in their area. There is no specific requirement to register children diagnosed with autism. It is estimated that the prevalence rate of classic autism is between 4–5 per 10,000 population and that (including these) about 21 per 10,000 may exhibit some features of autism. Recent research in Scandinavia suggested a prevalence rate of Asperger syndrome of 36 per 10,000.