ABC report on vaccination - the AVN finally gets a look-in!

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AM - Childhood immunisation rates on the rise

[This is the print version of story

http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2006/s1621104.htm]

AM - Saturday, 22 April , 2006 08:20:43

Reporter: Nance Haxton

ELIZABETH JACKSON: Rates of childhood immunisation in Australia are on the

rise after a downward trend in the late 1990s caused by research showing a

possible link between the Measles-Mumps-Rubella vaccine and autism.

A gathering of immunisation experts in Adelaide is examining the trend,

saying it indicates that parents' concerns about the link have been allayed.

However, some groups in the community say the link between autism and the

MMR vaccine have not been disproved, and better reporting of adverse

reactions is needed.

As Nance Haxton reports from Adelaide.

NANCE HAXTON: The Immunisation Symposium in Adelaide has brought together

every link in the chain in the development of vaccines, from researchers to

those who administer them.

Co-Director of the National Centre for Immunisation Research and

Surveillance Professor Booy says it is a reassuring trend that

parents are now returning to the Measles-Mumps-Rubella vaccine, after

concerns were raised in the late '90s that the immunisation could cause

autism.

ROBERT BOOY: In the 1970s we had scares about Pertussis vaccine and it took

15 to 20 years to reassure everyone, and then in late 1990s we had scares

about MMR and autism - it only took five years to get on top of that scare

through doing some good science and showing that this was not a true

association and that children could be safely protected by using this

vaccine.

NANCE HAXTON: In South Australia, extra data is gathered linking

vaccinations to any adverse reactions.

Head of Immunology at the Adelaide Women's and Children's Hospital Dr Mike

Gold says its a means of reassuring the community that vaccines are safe.

MIKE GOLD: This is just a responsible measure of any individual or

government who do recommend vaccination that you really need to have very

high standards of surveillance to make absolutely sure that the vaccines are

safe.

NANCE HAXTON: Meryl Dorey coordinates the Australian Vaccination Network - a

group concerned about the side effects of immunisation.

She says the link between autism and vaccination is not yet disproven, and

the network has reported many other repercussions to the Australian Adverse

Drug Reactions Advisory Committee.

MERYL DOREY: Well probably the most common reactions would be the high

fever, high pitched screaming and shock collapse reaction where a child goes

all limp and floppy. We have an awful lot of children who are reporting as

having seizures following vaccinations which can be very serious or it can

be just a one-off. And lots of behavioural problems and allergies.

NANCE HAXTON: She says better data is needed to reassure parents that they

are making the right decision.

MERYL DOREY: Only between one and 10 per cent of adverse reactions to

vaccination are reported. So that means that our statistics on vaccine

safety are between 90 and 99 per cent incorrect. And I don't think we can

draw any conclusion that's that wrong.

And we have a duty of care to our children and to ourselves to make sure

that if we're giving them a medical procedure - and that's what vaccination

is - that it's the safest and most effective one possible.

ELIZABETH JACKSON: President of the Australian Vaccination Network Meryl

Dorey ending Nance Haxton's report.

C 2006 Australian Broadcasting Corporation

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