'New baby jab could spark parent revolt'

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by Duncan Gardham
5/1/05

Health officials who want to introduce another jab for small babies fear there could be a massive boycott by parents worried about 'vaccine overload'. Children under two are already given nine vaccinations in three injections, including the controversial MMR vaccine.

A Department of Health advisory committee now plans to offer a routine inoculation against bacterial meningitis, septicaemia and pneumonia, which together can kill up to 100 under fives a year.

But Government health chiefs are aware than at extra vaccination could lead to a boycott by parents worried about the health of their children and have promised a consultation exercise before going ahead with it. A spokesman said yesterday: 'The immune system of a baby has got huge spare capacity and can respond to thousands of bacteria and viruses to prevent them from causing harm. (!!!) The concept of a vaccine 'overload' has been studied carefully (where is the evidence?) and the science says that this does not happen. A baby's immune system could tolerate over 1,000 vaccines.' (!!!???)

Last autumn the Government introduced a five-in-one injection against diptheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio and Haemophilus influenza type B, known as Hib.

There is also a sixth inoculation given separately against meningitis C.

But it is the measles, mumps and rubella jab that has proved most controversial since the disputed research of Dr. Andrew Wakefield revealed a possible link to autism.

Uptake of that injection has fallen to 80% and in some parts of the country is just 70%.

To try to avoid such controversy over the proposed new injection, the Government is promising to consult 1,000 parents of newborn babies and 800 health professsionals.

The joint committee on vaccination and immunisation said it 'recognised that some parents may have concerns.'

The Department of Health said: 'We are seeking further advice from our independent experts about how we could introduce the vaccine, the number of doses that should be offered and the appropriate age to vaccinate children.'

Andrew Wakefield's website www.mmrthequestions.com

MMR: The Questions is a new and developing website. It will be used to present contributions from scientists, other professionals and parents who believe that there is sufficient evidence to warrant further research into the issue of whether exposure to measles-containing vaccine increases subsequent risk of a range of developmental disorders and/or gastro-intestinal problems

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