Thousands of children in north Essex are not properly vaccinated against a trio of potentially lethal diseases, the Evening Gazette can reveal.
Figures show almost one in four children are not having jabs to protect them against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR).
Now experts at the Colchester and Tendring Primary Care Trusts are warning about epidemics if the situation does not change.
Grant Crawshaw, infection control and immunisation specialist nurse at Colchester and Tendring PCTs, said: "The controversy around the MMR vaccine caused untold damage to the vaccination programme and left thousands of children in Colchester and Tendring unprotected against three serious diseases.
"I would urge all parents to have their children vaccinated, and those still concerned about MMR to research the evidence well and talk to a knowledgeable health practitioner."
More in today's Evening Gazette
Published Monday, January 16, 2006
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