MMR botch puts kids at risk

Wednesday, 9 July 2003 12:00 AM

Thousands of children have been put at risk of contracting measles, mumps or rubella after two private clinics failed to follow immunisation guidelines, the Department of Health has confirmed.

The affected children were given single jabs after parents decided against the administration of the all-in-one MMR vaccination.

Elstree Aerodrome in Hertfordshire and the Hillsborough Arena in Sheffield are thought to have put up to 40,000 children at risk because of how single vaccines were prepared and stored.

The vaccines, made in advance, may have lost their effectiveness by the time they were used, thereby failing to protect the children.

The clinics, which were not registered with the National Care Standards Commission, were closed in February.

An initial investigation found 1,000 children were affected, but a more recent assessment of the clinical records over the last decade has put the figure some 40 times higher.

A Department of Health spokeswoman said: "We are advising parents of children who received a single vaccine at these clinics to contact their family doctor.

"They should not be alarmed, but they do need to ensure that their children are protected against measles, mumps and rubella."

Health officials will launch a campaign to encourage parents of children who received the single jabs to come forward for a further batch of immunisations.

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