MMR Coverup?

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Sunday July 15,2007

By Lucy ston

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HEALTH officials were yesterday accused of covering up serious risks

linked with the controversial MMR jab before it was introduced.

According to a secret dossier, five cases were reported of potentially

deadly brain inflammation following the use of MMR in Canada before it

became part of standard childhood vaccinations in Britain.

The internal documents from the Government's Joint Committee on

Vaccination and Immunisation also reveal reports that another brand of

MMR had caused " neurological complications " from the measles component

of the vaccine in the US.

Despite this, from 1988 both brands were administered routinely

without any warning of serious risk until they were withdrawn four

years later – because of health fears.

The revelation comes on the eve of a major court battle over the

safety of the controversial vaccine. Dr Wakefield and two

colleagues will tomorrow face charges before the General Medical

Council relating to research published in 1998 linking the MMR vaccine

with autism and inflammatory bowel disease.

In an interview with the Sunday Express, Dr Wakefield said the

Government played down the risks of vaccines and questioned critics.

He said: " The Government vigorously defends the vaccination programme

and those who challenge it have been questioned throughout history.

But I wouldn't have taken my position it if I didn't believe there

were genuine concerns about MMR. "

Last night, on the eve of his case, he told the Sunday Express he

stood by all his claims, adding that he was determined to help the

families of affected children.

Dr Fletcher, former Chief Scientific Officer at the Department

of Health, is also sceptical of the Government's position and the

safety of the jab.

He is due to testify at the GMC hearing and was unable to speak for

legal reasons.

But in an earlier interview he said: " The refusal by governments to

evaluate the risks properly will make this one of ­the greatest

scandals in medical history. "

But he added: " There are very powerful people in positions of great

authority who have staked their reputations on the safety of MMR and

they are willing to do almost anything to protect themselves. "

The minutes of the committee on vaccination meeting in 1988, released

under the Freedom of Information Act, blame the mumps component of

the vaccine, called Urabe, for five cases of brain inflammation.

The minutes state: " Four of these cases definitely followed the use of

vaccine containing Urabe mumps virus and the fifth probably did. "

The report added: " In the United States many of the reported

neurological complications were clearly related to the measles

component. " But despite these reports, experts at the meeting decided

the rate of adverse reactions to the mumps element from Canada was " in

keeping with that expected. " They also concluded that a study of the

US measles component should be carried out.

Seven months later both brands of MMR were introduced. But the MMR

vaccines containing Urabe were withdrawn in 1992 because it caused

potentially deadly meningitis. This was two years after it had already

been withdrawn in Canada for the same reason.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said: " MMR is the safest

and most effective way of protecting children against measles, mumps

and rubella.

" The Urabe MMR was stopped when the risk of aseptic meningitis was

higher than previously thought. "

She added that experts still considered the use of MMR " outweighed the

risks of not vaccinating " .

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http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/13550/Dangers-of-MMR-jab-%27covered-up%27