-Caveat Lector- >From http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-470582,00.html
British News November 06, 2002 Babies to get more multiple injections By Oliver Wright Children are likely to be immunised soon against up to six illnesses, all in a single injection PARENTS were told by doctors yesterday that children will be given many more multiple vaccinations, despite concerns over the safety of the MMR jab. Within the next three years babies are likely to be immunised against up to six separate illnesses, all in a single injection. There are also plans to extend the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine to cover chickenpox. Doctors agree that many parents are likely to be concerned by the changes but argue that it is safer to give children the combined vaccines early than to wait and immunise them separately. “Parents need to know what is happening so they can make informed choices for their children,” Professor Adam Finn, a vaccines expert from the University of Bristol Medical School, said. “These vaccines are soon going to be available and parents need to understand the theoretical risks as well as the benefits.” At present, all babies, in addition to being offered the MMR jab, are immunised against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and meningitis B in a single vaccine given three times in the first year of their life. But it is now possible to combine that vaccine with polio, now given orally, and hepatitis B. If adopted in Britain, this would result in children being immunised against six diseases in one injection. More controversially, there is also the possibility of combining the MMR injection with a vaccine for chickenpox that is already available in the United States. Medical experts would also like to see the introduction of a vaccine that would cover children against childhood pneumonia, ear infections and another strain of meningitis. This extra combined vaccine would be given to children at a similar age to the other jabs. “We are now able to vaccinate against many more illnesses than we have been in the past,” Professor Finn said. “And what we have proved is that vaccination is far more effective than trying to cure someone once they have that illness. “Having tackled some of the major diseases like measles and polio, it is a logical extension of the vaccination programme to go on to look at those illnesses which affect smaller numbers of people. These illnesses still kill children and leave them permanently disabled. “What we cannot say is that there are no theoretical risks with these additional combined vaccines. We know they will have very real benefits, but it is far harder to scientifically prove that in all cases they will never have an adverse effect. We have got to undergo a culture change and start thinking in those sorts of terms.” Groups representing parents who believe that their children have been damaged by MMR have criticised the moves to extend the vaccination programme. “We have concerns simply about the combined MMR jab,” Ann Coote, of the pressure group Jabs, said. “It is not very likely that parents would want it extended to include chickenpox as well. What we want is parents to be able to choose what vaccines are right for their children.” Dr David Elliman, a paediatrician from the department of child health at St George’s Hospital in London, said mothers liked combination vaccines because fewer injections were combined with earlier protection. However, he said, more needed to be done to educate the public about combination vaccinations in general. “It is really only the multiple MMR vaccine which causes controversy, although more and more vaccines are now combined,” he said. “As we see the possibility of more combined vaccines becoming available, parents need to be advised as to their advantages as well as the theoretical risks.” Stephen Rooney, of the Remember Rubella Campaign, said he had concerns that if people were unhappy with multiple vaccinations, they would go for single vaccinations and possibly miss out rubella which has been almost eradicated. He said: “There is no evidence that a programme of single vaccinations would be either safe or effective. Were single vaccinations to be introduced, the proportion of children protected at any one time against all three diseases would be reduced. “It is likely that children would not complete the courses of single vaccinations. Such a decrease in herd immunity would lead to outbreaks of rubella, measles and mumps.” The Health Department confirmed that a series of possible vaccine combinations was being considered, adding: “Future vaccine combinations will depend on a careful assessment of all of the evidence, comparing the benefits of combinations against the inconvenience and discomfort of separate injections.” Contact our advertising team for advertising and sponsorship in Times Online, The Times and The Sunday Times. 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