No increase in uptake of MMR jab

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The latest data from the NHS Information Centre revealed uptake rates remaining at 85% in 2007/08, the same as the previous year.

The number receiving the jab is lower than the 95% needed for immunity in the community and is far lower than around a decade ago, when 92% of children received the MMR jab.

In London, figures have been historically low, with less than 80% of children getting the jab.

Confidence in the mumps, measles and rubella vaccine fell after researchers published a 1998 paper in The Lancet medical journal suggesting a link between MMR and autism.

Uptake of the jab dropped to around 80% after some parents refused to let their children have the vaccine.

One of the experts, Dr Andrew Wakefield, is currently appearing before the General Medical Council on charges relating to his research.

Current recommendations from the World Health Organisations (WHO) are that at least 95% of children get two doses of MMR by the age of two.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) issued a warning last year after the number of reported measles cases shot up over the summer.

Earlier this month, the HPA published a report stating there were 1,794 laboratory confirmed cases of measles reported in children eligible for MMR between 2002 and 2007. Many of these cases occurred last year.