A review of all the scientific research to date on the triple measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine shows that there is no case for introducing the vaccines in single doses, according to the authors.
Professor David Elliman, of St George's Hospital, London, and Dr Helen Bedford, of the Institute of Child Health, published their review in the British Medical Journal's specialist publication Archives of Disease in Childhood in September and concluded that worries over the controversial MMR are unjustified.
They say there is no evidence to show that mumps, measles and rubella vaccines given singly are any safer than the triple vaccine. In fact single vaccines may be slightly less effective and safe, they say, because they are unlicensed and therefore not subject to the same quality controls. The Urabe mumps virus vaccine is thought to increase the risk of meningitis slightly, while the Rubini virus gives inadequate protection against mumps.
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