The Journal of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health Leading article

MMR vaccine—worries are not justified The advocates of Vaccination have exalted in the prospect of exterminating the Small Pox from the face of the earth; while its opponents have framed their tales of horror, replete with stories of novel diseases and unheard-of plagues.... When I consider the many evidences in favour of Vaccination, which the public documents of almost every nation aVord, I am at a loss to conceive from what cause such doubts can have arisen; for I think, if an unprejudiced mind will fairly consider the question, it must be convinced that Vaccination has answered the promised end. (from a letter to The Gentleman’s Magazine, March 1808, by “Cosmopoliton”) Since the introduction of the measles vaccine in 1968 and then the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine in 1988, measles, mumps, and rubella have become rare dis-eases. However, on the basis of research, primarily from one unit, some parents and health professionals have become concerned about the safety of MMR vaccine. This has led to a decline in uptake and fears of impending out-breaks.1 In this paper we review the background to thes