Children without MMR jab 'should be banned from school'

Published on Wednesday 3 June 2009 22:04

CHILDREN should be banned from school unless they can prove they have had the MMR vaccine, according to a public health expert.

Sir Sandy Macara, former chairman of the British Medical Association (BMA), wants the MMR jab, which guards against measles, mumps and rubella, to be made compulsory, and he has reportedly submitted a motion for debate at the BMA's annual conference later this month.

The number of children receiving the vaccine plummeted after research wrongly linked it to an increased risk of autism.

The drop in take-up has been blamed for measles outbreaks across the country and raised fears it could lead to an epidemic.

Children should receive their first dose of the vaccine at 13 months and the second at around three years and four months. But one in four children under five has not had both injections.

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 London Strategic Health Authority is understood to have asked the government whether it could introduce compulsory vaccinations, but was told the voluntary immunisation system would remain in place.

Documents obtained from a freedom of information request revealed it asked about the "feasibility of requiring an immunisation certificate for measles before children go to school".

While acknowledging that immunisation rates in London are consistently lower than the rest of the country, a Department of Health official reportedly 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."

Dr Vivienne Nathanson, head of BMA science and ethics, said the association produced a report which looked at the issue of compulsory vaccination in 2003.

"While some countries do operate immunisation programmes where there is some degree of compulsion, there are always exceptions and even compulsory systems do not provide 100 per cent cover," she said.

"Doctors feel it is preferable for health professionals to inform and educate parents about the overwhelming benefits of vaccination, not only for their children but for the public health of society in general.

"The report also concluded that vaccination remained the safest and most effective way of preventing infectious diseases."

Rates of MMR immunisation in Scotland have risen, with figures showing the uptake by five years of age is 95.6 per cent.