Bernard Allen
Question:135 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement on the recent decision to withdraw a baby vaccine which was used to protect babies against measles, mumps and rubella.
Written Answers. - Immunisation Programme.
On 4 September 1992 I directed that the vaccines currently being used in the Mumps, Measles and Rubella (MMR) immunisation programme be replaced.
This action was taken by me as a precautionary measure, following the results of a recent study in the UK which suggested a very low risk (estimated at no greater than one in 5,000) of viral meningitis associated with the mumps element of the particular MMR vaccine currently in use.
I would like to take this opportunity to stress that while any illness associated with the withdrawn vaccine appears to be of a minor and transient nature and indeed the particular vaccine continues to be used in other countries, I thought it prudent to take this action.
An alternative MMR vaccine is now available and the MMR immunisation programme is continuing with the minimum of interruption.