The Public Health Directorate has been notified of several cases of Mumps, Measles and a small number of cases of Rubella in the last few weeks.
 
The Department of Health (DH) would urge all parents to get their children vaccinated against these diseases with MMR.
 
Dr Parameswaran Kishore, Director of Public Health said “These diseases are not mild, they can cause serious complications; it is important to protect all children using MMR, which has a proven track record of safety and effectiveness.”
 
Advice to parents:
 
1. If your child has not had full cover of MMR (2 doses), please make an appointment at you doctors surgery.
2. Please do not resort to the use of single vaccines for the three diseases.  None of the single vaccines have been licensed by the Medicine and Health Regulatory Agency (MHRA) either because the manufacturers did not submit any evidence of safety or MHRA was not satisfied with the evidence.  In other words the single vaccine is not as safe as MMR.
3. There have been several adverse effects with single vaccines.  An alert notice was issued previously in connection with one of the single vaccines called Pavivac which was manufactured in Czech Republic.  There have also been serious concerns regarding some of the clinics offering single vaccines.
4. There is evidence that the risk of anaphylaxis, which can be fatal, is 10 – 15 times greater with single vaccines than with MMR.
 
Pam Kermode, Health Protection Nurse concluded “ My message is simple – give MMR, do not give single vaccines.”
 
Dr Kishore added “It is a great shame that even in this day and age; there is so much misinformation on health matters.  Unfortunately such misinformation can cost lives.  Do not take any risks with your child’s life – give MMR”
 
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