MMR: miracle cure or dangerous cocktail?

'We have been very lucky in finding a private GP who prescribed the single vaccinations for our son and administered them two months apart. We have read every bit of information we can about this subject and believe that there are many questions about MMR. Japan banned it because of health risks, initial research did not extend past a four-week follow up. The Finnish study was not actually looking for autism or bowel disease. If there's no link, why are children who begin to display behavioural problems, possibly autism, recommended not to have the booster jab? My own suspicion is that these children probably have a predisposition to these problems. However, the government should stop being arrogant and begin to listen to parents' worries.'

More information please:

'Nobody here is saying that MMR definitely causes autism, but there are valid concerns to request further research and separate vaccines in the meantime. This is not scare-mongering. It's a reasoned, responsible attitude. It's the patronising attitude we see from the medical profession and our government time and again that is the real problem.'

'The Vaccination Awareness Network UK have all the information you need (www.van.org.uk) and it has certainly made me decide I am NOT going to vaccinate my child against MMR or any other vaccine. I had the MMR jab when I was 14 at school and two years later found out I had Crohns Disease. This caused me to think that something was wrong about being injected with 'mashed chick embryos and human foetal cells' 2 ingredients in the MMR jab.'

'I've just visited the VAN website and am appalled at the scare mongering and one-sided diatribe against all immunisation. For instance: the polio vaccine - this site, unbelievably a registered charity, cites a Lancet paper from 1954 to cast doubt on the vaccine's safety. 1954? They complain about us not being told all the facts, but quoting a tiny fragment from a 50-year-old report is plain irresponsible. Parents want the facts - not a patronising pat on the head from GPs, not a blinkered tirade against medicine. Can somebody out there - with authority and an empirical mind - help us?'

'When the take-up rate falls below 80% due to the selfishness of some parents and their children suffer fatalities as a result of an epidemic, will they sound so smug then? Will they blame the medical establishment or the media? The facts are available. Draw your own conclusions from the primary sources and not from a biased website. If you don't read the research behind it how can you possibly expect to take part in a scientific debate?'

'Can anyone answer the following:

1. How many children develop autism or Crohn's who have never had the MMR vaccine? ie what is the incidence per unvaccinated child.
2. What is the incidence of autism/Crohns per vaccinated child?
3. Is there a reported increase in autism because 'autistic spectrum disorder' is now included?
4. What is the evidence for using separate vaccines? Have there been any studies to show it is more/less or as beneficial?'