'It never got better after MMR jab'

[Guest guest]

http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/60721.html

‘It never got better after MMR jab’

MARTYN McLAUGHLIN and CLAIRE HAMILTON April 25 2006

Copyright © 2006 Newsquest (Herald & Times) Limited.

Vaccination Rates (PDF)

Geoffrey Fiel was particularly bright as a baby, his father recalls. Not yet

a year old, he was able to feed himself and could say partial words, such as

Da.

But within weeks, the infant's life and that of his family was to change

irrevocably. Only hours after his parents, Angus and Lucy, took Geoffrey to

be given the MMR vaccine, he developed an adverse reaction.

A fever and a bad cough soon worsened into an ear infection. He stopped

eating, and lost all interest in playing with Tom, his elder brother.

" We thought it was just because he wasn't feeling well, " said Mr Fiel. " But

it never got better. "

Now aged eight, Geoffrey is diagnosed as autistic.

Mr Fiel, from Oban, gave up his pipe-installation job to become a full-time

carer for his son, along with his wife. The couple are in no doubt - the MMR

vaccine precipitated their second son's condition.

In hindsight, they believe his brother Tom also had an adverse reaction to

the triple jab.

Vaccinated soon after his first birthday, he subsequently displayed

challenging behaviour in public. At three-and-a-half, his speech was at the

level of a 13-month-old. Fortunately, before he reached four, Tom's

condition improved markedly. Now 10, he is " absolutely fine " according to

his father, and doing well at school.

Nonetheless, the Fiels' experience has led to their decision not to have

their youngest children, Angus Jr, nearly two, and five-month-old Arabella,

given the triple vaccine.

Their GP accepts their stance but will offer them little information on an

alternative, Mr Fiel said.

For Mr Fiel though, the verdict on MMR is unequivocal. " Over our dead

bodies, " he declared.

It is a stance which, while understandable, has no basis in scientific

reason. To date, there is no evidence of a direct link between MMR and

childhood autism.

The debate over MMR has raged for eight years without resolution and,

according to today's study, the public's response has led to heightened

vulnerability to measles among Scotland's nursery schoolchildren.

The controversy began in 1998, when The Lancet published research by Dr

Wakefield of London's Royal Free Hospital.

It linked the triple vaccine to the onset of childhood autism and a spectrum

of inflammatory bowel disorders which have been characterised as Crohn's

Disease.

Most Scots paid no heed but hundreds of others opted to have no vaccines, or

spent £200 on having have their children administered privately with single

vaccines imported from abroad.

The rate of MMR immunisation quickly plummeted.

The Lancet later said it regretted publishing the initial study due to a

" fatal conflict of interest " by Dr Wakefield.

Nevertheless, the public perception over MMR following the initial study

continue to prevail and, say experts, is having its own adverse effects.

In the five years before the 1987 introduction of the MMR vaccine, there

were 25,453 notifications of measles and six deaths from the disease in

Scotland. Earlier this month, however, Britain witnessed its first measles

death in 14 years, in Greater Manchester.

Soon afterwards, the disease broke out in Dumfries and Galloway. As of

yesterday, it was thought there were as many as 21 cases in the region (10

confirmed, nine probable, two possible) and a further four in Greater

Glasgow.

Last year, there was only one case of measles in Scotland, and two

occurrences in 2004.

Ironically, Scotland's south-west has witnessed one of the highest uptakes

of the triple vaccine - figures from NHS Scotland show that in the final

three months of 2005, 93.4% of two-year-olds in the region received the

vaccine, compared to the national average of 90.7%.

Today's study again raises the dilemma for parents - setting the protection

of their children from measles, mumps and rubella, against the

unsubstantiated fears surrounding MMR.

As far as Angus Fiel is concerned though, his stall is firmly set out.

" We had a health visitor tell us we were being irresponsible not to have

Angus Jr vaccinated, " he explains. " But what choice do we have? It's the MMR

or nothing . . . where's the freedom of choice? "

[Guest guest]

They keep mentioning this one death from Measles without giving any information

about the general state of health of this chilld.

And, they ignore the many deaths due to asthma attacks and fatal allergic

reactions. Must be lots more than just one.

Ingrid

Sue <mum2mishka@...> wrote:

http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/60721.html