MMR vaccination: friend or foe?

I made it my business to be aware of all of the latest medical reviews that became available to health professionals. I made valued judgements based on all of these reviews and on my experiences of dealing with children and parents within my daily work.

I know that the basis of all immunisation policy is on the scientific evidence of benefit and risk. The media are quick to pick up anecdotal evidence and create emotive stories - this makes good copy and sells newspapers.

The MMR vaccine, introduced around 1988, was acceptable to both health professionals and parents. Research, governed by strict rules and guidelines, is an important part of all medical practice.

Information has to be relevant, up-to-date and collected with care to avoid bias. Anything we take into our body can have side effects.

Medicines, and in this case the MMR vaccine, are no exception, but vaccines are among the safest medicines. The commonest side effects are similar to a mild version of one of the viruses involved.

In this case, the three-part vaccine with a mixture of Measles, Mumps, and German Measles (Rubella), can produce general loss of energy, slight fever, and possibly a rash. Swelling of the glands in the cheeks, as seen in mumps, may happen in about one in 100 cases.

It has been suggested that other conditions may be linked to MMR vaccine. These include:

Asthma, but the current view by experts is that there is no strong evidence to support this.

A very rare disease, Guillain-Barre syndrome which affects the brain and nervous system causing sudden paralysis, thought to be linked to the measles element. There is strong evidence against this.

Crohn's Disease, an inflammatory disease of the bowels. Many factors have been linked to this illness. Numerous research studies show no link between inflammatory bowel disease and MMR vaccination. This suggestion has been rejected.

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