Mumps soars for teens who missed MMR jab
Source: The Times Date: 04/02/2005
Sam Lister, health correspondent in The Times, reports that new figures from the Health Protection Agency show that 3,504 suspected mumps cases were reported in the first three weeks of January, up from 248 over the same period in 2004. The outbreak is thought to have occurred because the high-risk group of people aged between 15 and 24, many of whom were too old for the MMR vaccine, are now attending university and work and therefore are likely to catch viruses more easily. Of those people affected, more than two thirds fall into the 15-24 age category. Several universities have set up vaccination programmes and have written to students advising them to have the MMR vaccine. Young children whose parents refused to allow them to have the MMR vaccine because of the unfounded concerns over a link to autism are also particularly at risk. Mumps was the most common cause of viral meningitis in children before the introduction of the MMR vaccine. Signs of the current epidemic began to appear three years ago, when rates started to increase among teenagers who had missed out on the MMR vaccination programme, which was launched in 1988.

If you are aged between 18 and 25 years, you can be protected by 2 doses of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella). If you have not received the 2 doses, please make an appointment with one of our nurse practitioners either Sr Sally or Sr Tessa.

News: Wednesday 7th July 2004: Mumps epidemic
MMR scare blamed for huge rise in mumps . Source: Daily Telegraph Date: 07/07/2004
Britain is suffering the most serious outbreak of mumps for more than a decade according to the Health Protection Agency. Teenagers and young adults who missed out on the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine programme that began in 1988 are most at risk. Mumps can cause serious complications in adults including infertility. There were 578 confirmed cases of the disease in England and Wales in the first quarter of 2004; the highest number since records began in 1995. Rare complications include deafness.
If you are aged between 18 and 25 years, you can be protected by 2 doses of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella). If you have not received the 2 doses, please make an appointment with our nurse practitioner Sr Sally.

Independent review of MMR from the Consumer's Association

The April 2003 issue of the Drugs and Therapeutics Bulletin contained an independent review of the evidence for the effectiveness and safety of MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine. 44 articles were referenced in the review which concluded:

"Immunisation with the measles mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine gives highly effective protection against all 3 diseases, and has the potential to eliminate these infections, including congenital rubella syndrome, saving many lives and preventing serious illness. In our view, there is no convincing evidence that MMR vaccine causes, or facilitates development of, either inflammatory bowel disease or autism. Similarly, we believe that there is no reason to adopt an alternative immunisation policy that allows substitution of single antigen vaccines for the combined vaccine. Such an arrangement has no sound scientific basis and is likely to result in increased rates of disease and an attendant increase in morbidity, mortality and risk to others. The weight of the published evidence argues overwhelmingly in favour of MMR vaccine as the most effective and safest way of protecting children from measles, mumps and rubella."

Site news: Friday 31st October 2003: "MMR not risk factor for autism"

Today, in The Lancet, a member of the team that reported a possible link between MMR and autism in 1998 says: "There is now unequivocal evidence that MMR is not a risk factor for autism - this statement is not spin or medical conspiracy, but reflects an unprecedented volume of medical study on a worldwide basis.......By any rational standards of risk/benefit calculation, it is an illogical and potentially dangerous mistake for parents to be prepared to take their children in a car on the motorway......., but not to protect them with the MMR vaccine. An unprotected child is not only at personal danger, but represents a potential hazard to others, including unborn children."  For maximum child safety, the World Health Organisation recommends 95% uptake of vaccine but some areas of England now have an uptake below 70%. Measles cases have doubled in the past year and a measles epidemic is only a matter of time and may occur this winter. Dr Murch: http://www.thelancet.com/journal/vol362/iss9394/full/llan.362.9394.correspondence.27631.1

Site news Monday 26th March 2001

The Medicines Control Agency reviewed the information about MMR after the publication of a new paper by Dr Andrew Wakefield. The response is available on the web at:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/Home/fs/en 

Site news Friday 12th January 2001

A possible association between MMR vaccination and autism was suggested by a poorly designed research study. This association has not been borne out by larger better designed studies. In Finland, MMR has been used for 6 years longer than in the UK and information on side effects has been kept since the outset. There was no link to autism or inflammatory bowel disease in the 1.8 million children followed up for 14 years. The incidence of serious side effects was 3.2 per 100,000 doses mainly allergic reactions and fits. No deaths or brain damage was identified unlike the disease measles which causes deaths, brain damage and other serious long-term effects. The immunisation rate has fallen in  Dublin and 2 children have now died from measles. Certain parts of the UK now have immunisation rates as low as 75% so a measles epidemic will occur as there are sufficient unprotected children now for the disease to take a hold. The only questions are when it will occur, how far round the country will it spread and how many children will be disabled or killed by what could and should be a preventable disease.