A family doctor from Colchester has been named as one of a handful nationwide still prescribing single dose measles, mumps and rubella vaccines.
Dr Christopher Parry said he would continue to offer single doses via a private practice rather than face parents failing to immunise their children altogether following fears about the joint MMR jab.
Dr Parry is one of just a handful of doctors natonwide still offering the single vaccines to his private patients.
This is despite a General Medical Council inquiry into a former Lincolnshire GP who holds an inoculation clinic for parents who reject the combined MMR.
But Dr Parry said while he did not want to comment on that situation, he would be continuing to offer the single vaccination to parents who were so concerned about the joint one they were considering not having it at all.
The GP, who also practices at Mill Road Surgery, in Mile End, carries out immunisations on private patients only at special clinics held once every two weeks at the Colchester Osteopathic Centre.
Concerns about the MMR jab were raised following an article published in 1999 which suggested it could have links with Crohn's disease, which affects the intestines, and autism in children.
Dr Parry said: "Parents should be reassured that MMR is safe. All the medical and clinical evidence suggests that it is and that they should be strongly advised to have their child immunised with MMR.
"Nevertheless, for those who will remain unconvinced and would otherwise opt for nothing, the choice of having the vaccines singly remains a sensible though slightly less safe alternative.
"I'm going to continue providing the vaccines singly to those who want it until I receive advice to the contrary," he added.
Dr Christopher Parry - would not encourage the single vaccines but if asked would not refuse.
Picture: NIGEL BROWN
By Lauren Spurgeon
Reporter's e-mail: lauren_spurgeon@thisisessex.co.uk
Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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