Only a small number of children experience a strong allergic reaction to the vaccine, around 1 in 100,000 immunisations.
The vaccine has been used in over 93 countries world wide, with over 600,000 vaccines given out on a yearly basis.
In the UK, the MMR vaccine is given in two doses, one when you are around 1 year old, and the second is given between the ages of 4-7, having two doses is essential to build up an immunity to the disease, it is also essential that the percentage of vaccinations given out stays at about 95% to stop measles mumps and rubella spreading. A single
Immunisation, at best, offers immunity in only 80–90% of vaccine recipients, since about 20% of the target population either fails to receive the primary dose altogether, or fails to respond to the vaccine.
Measles mumps and rubella are all diseases with serious side effects; Measles has a wide range of symptoms including ear infection, bronchitis, fits and brain damage. Measles can be fatal. Mumps causes temporary deafness, miscarriage and also pain or swelling in the testicles of older males. Rubella can lead to painful joints, blood disorders and even swelling of the brain. Rubella may also cause miscarriage in pregnant women. As you can see in the graphs below, according to National Health Service, the number of cases of measles mumps and rubella have dramatically fallen since the combined vaccine was introduced.
Reports that the vaccine has serious side effects of bowel disease and autism have been proven incorrect. The study written by Dr. Wakefield in 1998, in the well known journal, The Lancet, was dismissed after the biggest study to date, into whether the vaccination does cause autism and bowel disease, scientists from Guys Hospital in London, Manchester University and The Health Protection Industry tested the blood of 250 children who had been given the MMR immunisation and there was no sign on bowel disease or autism. This means that there is no real reason not to have your children vaccinated anymore.
Leading Healthcare BUPA insurance says that “Evidence suggests that almost everyone who has had a successful immunisation is protected against these diseases for life. The vaccine has been around for 30 years and is used in over 100 countries. More than 500 million doses have been given.”
Autism was well known long before MMR was used in this country. More cases of autism are being reported now, but the increase started before MMR was introduced and there was no dramatic rise in cases of autism when MMR immunisation started.
The World Health Organisation states “MMR is a highly effective vaccine with an outstanding safety record.” There was more than a decade of experience in the US before it was used in the UK. Over 90 countries have introduced MMR vaccine and more than 500 million doses have been used.
If we used single vaccines, in place of the three in one vaccine, it would mean that; Children would have to have six separate injections over a long period of time, meaning that the children would be left without protection from measles, mumps, and rubella between each injection.
Also, there would be a fall in vaccine coverage as children may not complete the course of injections.
There is a risk that babies may catch the diseases from older family members who are unprotected between separate injections.
Another problem with having separate injections is that; pregnant women will be at a risk of the rubella infection from their own unprotected children and the children of their friends.
Dr Andrew Wakefield, a consultant gastroenterologist, published a study in ‘The Lancet’ saying that he found that there is a possible link between the combined MMR vaccine and Autism, in 1998. Dr Wakefield’s study focused on 12 children who had been referred to the Royal Free Hospital. Dr Wakefield speculated that receiving the vaccine damages your bowel causing your body to release toxins that lead to developing Autism. Dr Wakefield also suggested that combining three live viruses into one injection could be dangerous, he recommended children to be given several separate injections. A man named Paul Shattock, who works at Autism Research Unit in Sheffield, carried out a study of 5,000 children who suffer from autism in Britain, he also supports Dr Wakefield’s work
Parents decided not to have their children vaccinated with the combined vaccine, and demanded separate vaccines for their children. They were supported by a hand full of doctors who were willing to give the single vaccines.
Also, Tony Blair, the previous Prime minister, refused to tell the public whether his son has been given the MMR vaccine. If Tony Blair has not vaccinated his son, then there could be doubts in its safety?
The case of Katie Stephens. The telegraph reported ‘Katie Stephens was a healthy baby girl when she was injected with the combined MMR vaccine, ten days later she was vomiting, delirious and feverish. This was back in 1990, seventeen years later Katie is deaf in one ear’ This case shows the side effects that the combined MMR vaccine can cause, is the combined vaccine actually worth the risks ?
Overall, both arguments for and against the measles mumps and rubella vaccination have valid and reasonable points, meaning that the MMR vaccine will remain a controversial subject, for the following years to come.
Some people are of the opinion that children should be given the measles mumps and rubella vaccination as three separate vaccines or not at all. This is partly because of Dr Andrew Wakefield’s study published in The lancet in 1998 which said that combining three live viruses is potentially dangerous, Dr Wakefield suggested that children should receive the vaccine in three separate injections. Dr Wakefield also said that that there is a link between the combined MMR vaccine and Autism, there was also a possible link to bowel disease. Dr Wakefield’s work was also supported by Paul Shattock, Shattock works in an Autism Research Unit.
My opinion is that children should continue receiving the combined vaccination. I think this for a number of reasons, the main one being that; the most significant and controversial study published in The Lancet in 1998, said that the MMR vaccine has a possible link between Autism and Bowel Disease, since then this has been proven incorrect. After a reliable study by scientists at Guys Hospital in London, Manchester University and The Health Protection Industry tested the blood of 250 children, who had been given the MMR immunisation, with all children showing no symptoms of Autism or Bowel Disease.
Also, Measles mumps and rubella are serious diseases with life changing side effects; evidence suggests that if the recipient has had a successful immunisation against the three diseases, they will be protected for life.
Another Reason is that, there is no evidence to show a dramatic rise in the amount of cases of autism since the combined MMR vaccine was introduced. The rise in cases of Autism became apparent before the immunisation was used.
I think that using separate vaccines for each disease is far too risky, the vaccines have to be given over a long period of time, leaving the child unprotected for a longer period of time than necessary, this could lead to the child catching any three of the diseases from friends.
Information -
The information about how the Vaccine works in Scientific Knowledge came from this website -
The information about the amount of Vaccinations in Introduction and Arguments For came from this website -
The information about the MMR vaccine in Introduction and Arguments For came from this website -
The information about the effects of Measles, Mumps and Rubella came from this website -
The information in Arguments For and Introduction about Measles, Mumps and Rubella and the link between autism and bowel disease came from this website -
The information in introduction and conclusion came from this website-
The information in Arguments For and Arguments Against section came from this website -
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-89553/The-case-MMR-vaccine.html
The information from BUPA health care in the Arguments For section came from this website -
http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/html/mmr.html?print
The information about Katie Stephens came from this website -
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/main.jhtml?xml=/health/2007/03/05/hmmr105.xml
The information from The World Health Organisation in Arguments For came from this website -
http://www.mmrthefacts.nhs.uk/basics/truths.php
Graphs -
The graphs showing the number of cases of measles mumps and rubella came from this website -
www.mmrthefacts.nhs.uk/library/common.php
Pictures –
The picture of the needle on the front cover came from this website -
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/graphics/2007/03/05/hmmr.jpg
