Why immunisation is the best health option for kids

A new survey suggests some parents are still worried about getting their children vaccinated, but an expert explains why immunisation is the best health option for kids

While claims linking the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine to autism were discredited nearly a decade ago, it seems fears about vaccinations still linger in the minds of some parents.

A new survey has found that more than one in three parents are scared about their child being immunised, and would delay the jabs because of their safety concerns.

Indeed the research, conducted by the parenting website BabyCentre on behalf of Calpol, found 27% of parents questioned feared that immunisations may trigger a condition such as autism, despite the World Health Organisation (WHO) stating in 2003 that the MMR vaccine wasn't linked to the condition.

The MMR scare, which was sparked by now-discredited research published in 1998, saw vaccination rates fall from 91% to 79% in six years.

Rates have since recovered to 91% again - but it seems more needs to be done to allay the fears of those parents who are still worried about vaccinations.

Dr Helen Bedford, a senior lecturer in children's health at the University College London (UCL) Institute of Child Health, says it's "perfectly understandable" why some parents might still be concerned about having their child vaccinated.

"Immunisation is very important to protect children, but nevertheless, it gets a lot of bad press.

"You're taking a healthy child and putting something into it - parents are going to be anxious about that."

She says the latest Department of Health research, from 2010, showed the vaccine parents were most concerned about was no longer MMR but swine flu, highlighting the fact that parents are more anxious about the vaccines that have received the most recent publicity.

"The rates have gone up since the MMR scare - in the end, parents do get their children immunised, but that's not to say they're not anxious and don't have a lot of questions that we should be responding to," says Bedford.

She explains that there can be side-effects with immunisations - for example, the primary vaccine, which is given at two months of age and protects children against diphtheria, tetanus, polio, whooping cough and hib, may result in a child having a temperature and feeling grotty and upset 24-48 hours after the jab. There may also be soreness and redness around the injection site.

Bedford says a reaction to the MMR vaccine is also common, but as this is a live vaccine, any side-effects may not emerge until a week after the jab.

Around one in 10 children get what's known as mini-measles, with a fever, rash, and loss of appetite.

"It's very common," explains Bedford, "but obviously parents need to know that it's a possibility. If it comes out of the blue, it can be very scary."

The Calpol research found that 82% of respondents didn't know how many immunisations children should have in their first year, and 39% rated the quality of information they got about children's vaccinations as average, poor or extremely poor.

In addition, almost half said they didn't get enough information from their practice nurse about what to expect after immunisation.

"They're not always told, but it could sometimes be that parents are advised and they don't remember, as they may be so anxious that they don't take it all in," says Bedford.

"It's very important that parents are advised - if you have advance warning of anything, you'll be better equipped to deal with it."

She says the majority of children only get minor side-effects but, rarely, children may have convulsions after the MMR vaccine. Studies show that 330 children in every million who have the MMR vaccine will have a convulsion.

"What needs to be borne in mind is it's a much, much lower rate than if a child has measles," she stresses.

"And if they have a fit with the MMR vaccine, you're much less likely to be left with a permanent problem than if you had a fit with natural measles."

Measles is extremely infectious, says Bedford, meaning high levels of immunity are needed and immunisation rates need to reach 95%. Measles can be very serious and has been known to kill, as it can cause encephalitis and pneumonia.

Vaccines are made in different ways - live vaccines such as MMR are made of toned-down versions of the virus itself, to which the body produces protective antibodies.

Other vaccines may feature the organism that causes the disease or something the organism produces, with its harmful effects taken out.

Standard childhood vaccinations in the UK currently protect against 10 diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, hib (a type of influenza), pneumococcal disease, meningococcal C disease, and measles, mumps and rubella, plus human papilloma virus (HPV) in older girls.

"These diseases can kill you or leave you with permanent problems, says Bedford, "and we immunise to try to avoid that.

"What's given is safe and effective."

However, John Fletcher of Jabs, the support group for families of vaccine-damaged children, insists that not enough reports of adverse reactions to vaccines are investigated.

"I'm not anti-vaccine," he says, "as the diseases they protect against can be very nasty.

"But adverse reactions in children aren't followed up."

He suggests that before vaccination, children should be screened for neurological problems and suppressed immune systems, and asked if they're on antibiotics, as he believes these might affect a child's reaction to a vaccine.

"They put every child on a conveyor belt for vaccinations," he says.

"They don't treat them as individuals. It's not surprising parents get worried about it."