AN ANGRY mother has criticised government child immunisation advice which she fears may put her baby daughter at risk.

Pam Kingsland, 35, from Pilkingtons, Church Langley, is outraged that the only option given to parents by the Department of Health is to choose the combined measles, mumps and rubella injection (MMR) for their

children.

The upset mother and her husband Kurt, who have been concerned about recent health scares surrounding MMR, are now fighting for the right to let their 13-month-old daughter Ellie to have each of the three vaccinations separately.

Mrs Kingsland said: I am very pro-vaccination but I am concerned there are only two options available. Have the injection and hope everything will be ok, or leave your child unprotected against these diseases.

It is so frustrating because I have done as much as I can to get the separate vaccines and I have been blocked at every door.

Mothers should be respected by the Department of Health and given full access to information to make an informed choice.

When Mrs Kingsland tried to have Ellie vaccinated separately, she discovered her GP did not stock single measles or mumps vaccinations, supplies of which are restricted by the government which recommends the MMR instead.

Even when doctors do receive separate vaccination supplies, they will only be able to legally administer them to children who have medical reasons for not receiving the MMR injection.

Mrs Kingsland first became concerned after hearing claims by research doctor Andrew Wakefield that MMR is linked to autism and Crohns disease.

Medical experts, who attended a scientific seminar at the Medical Research Council (MRC) last month, dismissed Dr Wakefields claims.

In agreement, Chief Medical Officer Sir Kenneth Calman said: I am deeply concerned at reports that parents are not having their children immunised.

He stressed the MMR was highly effective and separate vaccines could be harmful because they would expose children to these serious diseases over a much longer period.

He added it was coincidental that autism was usually detected when children were 18 months old, the same time as when the combined jab was administered.

A Department of Health spokeswoman said separate vaccine availability was limited because they were less effective and it was not the best course the Department of Health or GPs would recommend.

Vaccination manufacturer Pasteur Merieux said measles injections would be available from July or August but mumps jab availability was not yet confirmed. Rubella jabs supplied by Farillon are widely available.

Harlow MP Bill Rammell, who advised parents to have their children MMR immunised, said: I am convinced there is no problem but if Mrs Kingsland wants separate vaccines and her GP cannot help, I

will see what I can do.

Mrs Kingsland is now searching for a private paediatrician to immunise Ellie against measles. She

said: Shes not having the MMR, so I have got to do something.

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