§ Mr. Peter RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent research has been conducted on the MMR vaccine. [123719]
§ Angela SmithPrimary MMR research has not been undertaken in Northern Ireland, mainly due to the small size of our population. However large studies addressing the issues of MMR safety and effectiveness have been carried out in the UK and other European countries. The most recent of these is a Danish study which was published at the end of 2002. This study looked at the effects of MMR in over half a million Danish children. The study concluded that there was no link between MMR and autism or any other neurodevelopment disorders.
DHSSPS receive advice on immunisation policy from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) who keep all national and international research under regular review. The JCVI continues to recommend the use of MMR vaccine for all children.
Further information is available on the websites of the Medical Research Council, www.doh.gov.uk and www.mmrthefacts.nhs.uk.