THE debate on the safety of MMR is likely to run and run, but one fact cannot be disputed -- measles can be a killer.
The vaccine was introduced to provide protection against measles, mumps and rubella, but experts say it will only work if the majority of parents are behind it.
Just 84 per cent of East Lancashire children have had the controversial jab, prompting the area's public health director to warn that a child could die from measles if there is an epidemic.
Dr Stephen Morton, Director of Public Health for East Lancashire, said considerable progress was made in the early 90s to increase levels of vaccination. But he added this has fallen giving rise to "significant risks in East Lancashire."
He said: "We have a significant risk of a measles outbreak which would bring substantial morbidity and perhaps even a death in a young child.
"At the current levels, we risk having local outbreaks and then those who have not been immunised, or who have had one or two injections but are not actually covered, will be at severe risk."
There have been no cases in East Lancashire for two years, making it likely that an epidemic is imminent. Outbreaks have recently been reported in London and the north east.
Many parents are now refusing to have their children vaccinated, in light of fears that there are links with autism, but medical experts are emphatic that they are not linked.
Dr Morton said: "We don't know when the next epidemic will come but if one arrived in the UK in 2002 we would be very badly affected in East Lancashire. It is very important that we get levels of immunity up because outbreaks are inevitable."
Frank Clifford, chairman of Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Community Health Council, said: "Based on the information that is available to us we wholeheartedly agree with the thrust of the Department of Health, that the whole vaccine is, and has proved to be, most effective in controlling the disease.
"We are sure that there is no great underlying risk at all and that on balance the right approach is the one that the Department of Health is promoting. There will always be differing opinions.
He added: "Our advice to parents is to avail themselves of the opportunity and to be content that the Department of Heath is right to be advocating it."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article