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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Call to make MMR jab compulsory | Call to make MMR jab compulsory |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| A former chairman of the British Medical Association is calling for the MMR jab to be made compulsory. | A former chairman of the British Medical Association is calling for the MMR jab to be made compulsory. |
| Public health expert Sir Sandy Macara believes children should not be able to go to school unless they have first been vaccinated. | Public health expert Sir Sandy Macara believes children should not be able to go to school unless they have first been vaccinated. |
| Sir Sandy has submitted a motion for debate at the annual BMA conference later this month. | Sir Sandy has submitted a motion for debate at the annual BMA conference later this month. |
| Uptake of the MMR vaccine fell sharply after controversial research wrongly linked it to a raised risk of autism. | Uptake of the MMR vaccine fell sharply after controversial research wrongly linked it to a raised risk of autism. |
| One in four children under five has not had both MMR injections, which are needed to give full protection against measles, mumps and rubella. | One in four children under five has not had both MMR injections, which are needed to give full protection against measles, mumps and rubella. |
| As a result there have been measles outbreaks across the country, and experts at the Health Protection Agency now fear a measles epidemic is likely. | As a result there have been measles outbreaks across the country, and experts at the Health Protection Agency now fear a measles epidemic is likely. |
| Sir Sandy said: "Our attempts to persuade people have failed. | Sir Sandy said: "Our attempts to persuade people have failed. |
| "The suggestion is that we ought to consider making a link which in effect would make it compulsory for children to be immunised if they are to receive the benefit of a free education from the state." | "The suggestion is that we ought to consider making a link which in effect would make it compulsory for children to be immunised if they are to receive the benefit of a free education from the state." |
| Linking vaccinations to school admission is controversial but common in other countries. | Linking vaccinations to school admission is controversial but common in other countries. |
| It happens in the US, most of Australia, Spain and Greece. | It happens in the US, most of Australia, Spain and Greece. |
| Persuasion | Persuasion |
| But in the UK vaccination programmes have relied on persuading and educating parents that immunisation is not only beneficial to their children but to society as a whole. | But in the UK vaccination programmes have relied on persuading and educating parents that immunisation is not only beneficial to their children but to society as a whole. |
| The BBC has learned, however, through a freedom of information request that the strategic health authority in London asked the government if it could introduce compulsory vaccinations. | The BBC has learned, however, through a freedom of information request that the strategic health authority in London asked the government if it could introduce compulsory vaccinations. |
| The proposals, reported today, to make MMR jabs compulsory show how worried some public health professionals are Martin Rosenbaum Open Secrets Read Martin's thoughts in full | |
| Specifically the SHA asked about the "feasibility of requiring an immunisation certificate for measles before children go to school." | Specifically the SHA asked about the "feasibility of requiring an immunisation certificate for measles before children go to school." |
| In documents seen by the BBC, the Department of Health acknowledges that immunisation rates in London are consistently lower than the rest of the country. | In documents seen by the BBC, the Department of Health acknowledges that immunisation rates in London are consistently lower than the rest of the country. |
| But officials said: "Our strategy is to maintain a voluntary immunisation system and invest efforts in educating parents about the benefits of vaccination and dispelling 'myths' about vaccine safety." | But officials said: "Our strategy is to maintain a voluntary immunisation system and invest efforts in educating parents about the benefits of vaccination and dispelling 'myths' about vaccine safety." |
| Serious consequences | Serious consequences |
| Rachel Whittle knows the consequences of not vaccinating her children. | Rachel Whittle knows the consequences of not vaccinating her children. |
| Lola May was hospitalised with measles | Lola May was hospitalised with measles |
| Her daughter Lola May was in hospital for five weeks and has been left partially deaf after getting measles. | Her daughter Lola May was in hospital for five weeks and has been left partially deaf after getting measles. |
| "In hindsight I wish that I'd had my children vaccinated," she said. | "In hindsight I wish that I'd had my children vaccinated," she said. |
| "The guilt is something that I now have to live with. | "The guilt is something that I now have to live with. |
| "But I didn't choose to vaccinate, I urge parents to vaccinate and make that decision. | "But I didn't choose to vaccinate, I urge parents to vaccinate and make that decision. |
| "But I don't however agree with it being compulsory." | "But I don't however agree with it being compulsory." |
| At a mother and toddler group in Manchester parents were equally unsure about making vaccinations compulsory. | At a mother and toddler group in Manchester parents were equally unsure about making vaccinations compulsory. |
| "I don't think you'd have to go as far as legal intervention," said one mother. | "I don't think you'd have to go as far as legal intervention," said one mother. |
| "All that would do is make people angry and saying don't impose such sanctions really." | "All that would do is make people angry and saying don't impose such sanctions really." |
| "I don't think it should be compulsory," said another. | "I don't think it should be compulsory," said another. |
| I think this would be handing a gift to the anti-vaccine lobby Professor Adam Finn Send us your comments | I think this would be handing a gift to the anti-vaccine lobby Professor Adam Finn Send us your comments |
| "I've had my daughter done but I think it's down to the parent. | "I've had my daughter done but I think it's down to the parent. |
| "If the parents don't want their children to have the injection I don't think they should have to." | "If the parents don't want their children to have the injection I don't think they should have to." |
| Media blame | Media blame |
| Professor Adam Finn, a vaccine expert in Bristol, said the media was largely to blame for scaremongering over the MMR jab. | Professor Adam Finn, a vaccine expert in Bristol, said the media was largely to blame for scaremongering over the MMR jab. |
| But, although he sympathises with Sir Sandy's concerns about the possibility of a measles epidemic, Professor Finn believes compulsory vaccination would be counter-productive. | But, although he sympathises with Sir Sandy's concerns about the possibility of a measles epidemic, Professor Finn believes compulsory vaccination would be counter-productive. |
| "There is a real risk we would end up with less MMR immunisation not more," he said. | "There is a real risk we would end up with less MMR immunisation not more," he said. |
| "I think this would be handing a gift to the anti-vaccine lobby, because they would say 'look they can't persuade you it is right, so they are going to have to force you'." | "I think this would be handing a gift to the anti-vaccine lobby, because they would say 'look they can't persuade you it is right, so they are going to have to force you'." |
| But as fears of a measles epidemic grow, serious questions are now being asked as to whether persuasion on its own is enough. | But as fears of a measles epidemic grow, serious questions are now being asked as to whether persuasion on its own is enough. |