From the country that brought you vaccination (256 years ago today):
BBC (23-Sep-04): MMR immunisation rate falls again
Uptake of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine in England has fallen yet again, official figures show… In the late 1990s, some scientists suggested MMR might be linked to autism and bowel disease. However, no research has ever proved a link, and the overwhelming majority of experts believe the vaccine is safe.
BBC (13-May-05): Cases of mumps soaring across UK
The UK is in the grip of a mumps epidemic which struck nearly 5,000 people in January alone, say experts. Cases in England and Wales soared by 12,000 to 16,436 in 2004, they say… Dr Gupta's group said uptake of MMR among two-year-olds in the UK fell from around 92% in early 1995 to around 80% in 2003/4. "In some areas of London, as few as 60% of two-year-olds had received a first dose of MMR."
What a pity there's no vaccine against stupidity. Mind you, those most in need of it would no doubt refuse to take it.
It's the NHS that's stupid...In the Dorset Healthcare Trust we have been told that we can no longer use the term 'patients'. Originally we were told to use the term 'clients', until someone pointed out that it is a word associated with prostitutes & hairdressers (both noble professions, of course). So now we refer to them as 'service users'. Now I don't know about you but that cunjours up images of British Gas/Electricity. This sort of high level decision making costs money. Money which would be well spent educating the population about the need for important vaccinations. My oldest granddaughter has cerebral palsy because her mother refused the MMR jab through ignorance!