Rev. Graham Forbes: "Issue clouded"

The panel's chairman, the Reverend Graham Forbes, said: "I appreciate that for some, our views... will not be the end of the matter. I do not believe that is what our group was set up for.

"However, we as a group are convinced that the controversy over MMR has clouded an even more important issue - the increasing number of families striving to cope with the challenge of supporting and bringing up an autistic child."

The condition, known medically as autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), affects about 30,000 people in Scotland.

Rev. Forbes, Provost of St Mary's Cathedral in Edinburgh, added: "We have urged the Scottish Executive to improve the range and quality of services provided to, and for, children with autism and their families."

Take-up drop

The report was commissioned eight months ago by the Scottish Executive in an attempt to allay fears about the MMR injection.

Take-up of MMR has declined since suggestions were made of a link between it and autism or bowel disorders.

According to the latest figures, 86% of two-year-olds have received the triple MMR injection, as opposed to 97% of children who have received the tetanus inoculation.

The controversy surrounding this issue, fuelled by some unhelpful media coverage, continues to cause distress and uncertainty for parents

Dr John Garner Chairman, BMA Scotland

With evidence of a downturn in MMR vaccinations, ministers have expressed concerns about the resurgence of cases of measles, mumps and rubella.

There have been outbreaks of measles in London, Wales and Fife in recent months.

One of the group's 19 members, epidemiologist Dr Claire Bramley, said: "Single vaccines would leave children unprotected against measles, mumps and rubella becuse children would remain susceptible for long while awaiting further doses."

'Alternative arrangements

In an apparent concession to concerns among some members of the group who are parents, the report does say that the joint council on vaccination and immunisation should consider alternative arrangements for some families.

Jane Hook, of the Scottish Society for Autism, who is also a member of the expert group, acknowledged that no firm link had yet been established between MMR and autism.

Jane Hook: "Parental concerns"

But she said her organisation's position had still not changed and that she believed parents should be given single vaccines on the NHS if they wished.

"We believe that parents should be given that choice. We've got a lot of members who believe their child's autism has been caused by MMR.

"Even though the report clearly states there is no evidence at this time, parental concerns have to be taken on board."

Robert McKay, national co-ordinator for National Autistic Society Scotland, welcomed the report's call for more research.

Alternative policies

"We have to think very carefully over the concerns reported to us by parents of children with autism who are saying that MMR is a trigger.

"As a non-medical group, we can only accept expert opinion. But we welcome further research into possible links between the triple vaccine and autism," he added.

Doctors in Scotland welcomed the panel's report, in particular the group's scrutiny and dismissal of five alternative immunisation policies:

• No immunisation - "untenable"
  
• Compulsory immunisation - "no evidence it would lead to higher take-up"
  
• Deferral of MMR - "not supported by current scientific evidence"
  
• MMR or single vaccines - "cannot be sustained on the basis of available scientific evidence"
  
• Single vaccines instead of MMR - "single vaccines not made to UK licence standards"