Autism Fears over MMR Unnecessary, Says Blair
Wednesday, January 07, 2004 (18:34:25)

Posted by Sylvia

Scottish News 07/01/2004

By Pippa Crerar

Public fears over the link between the MMR vaccine and autism had been raised “quite unnecessarily”, Prime Minister Tony Blair said today.

Evidence of the safety of the vaccination was “very clear”, he added.

The triple measles, mumps and rubella jab has been clouded in controversy ever since it was linked to the syndrome by research during the 1990s.

Dr Andrew Wakefield’s work, carried out while he was at London’s Royal Free Medical School, first raised suspicions about a possible relationship between the MMR jab and autism and bowel disease.

But subsequent research around the world has failed to prove a link and the majority of doctors back the safety of the triple vaccine.

At question time, Mr Blair told MPs: “You’re absolutely right to say that the controversy over MMR is a very good example of where people’s fears were raised quite unnecessarily since the evidence is very clear.”

He went on: “You will know that Education Secretary Charles Clarke has certain proposals about the changes in research funding and I would simply refer you to those.

“But I agree with you that it is important that the funding goes on the basis of scientific and good research.”

There are currently two reviews under way into parts of what is known as the “dual support” funding system for university research.

Labour’s Nigel Beard (Bexleyheath and Crayford) called on universities and research laboratories to ensure that where work related to public health and welfare, it was properly reviewed by peers working in the same field.

He asked the Prime Minister: “Would you agree that had that been done to the work of Dr Wakefield – that purported to link the MMR vaccine to autism but was never corroborated – that a great deal of parental anxiety and a dangerous fall in children’s’ vaccination could have been avoided.”