The number of children in Wales receiving the MMR jab has risen

The latest official figures from Health Protection Agency (HPA) show the number of children of up to two years of age in Wales being given the single vaccine rose by 1.5%, compared to an UK average rise of 0.9%.

Vaccination rates have been falling since a claim in a 1998 research paper that the combined MMR vaccine was linked to the development of autism in some children.

No link has ever been proved and the majority of experts believe the MMR vaccine is safe.

MMR FACTS MMR is a combined vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella, three common infectious diseases of childhood It was introduced in the UK in 1988 to replace single vaccines for each disease Children receive the jab aged around 15 months MMR coverage peaked at 92% across the UK in 1995 to 1996 But by last year, the figure had dropped to below 80%

And the latest figures show that the take-up in Wales has risen from 77.1% to 78.6%.

The UK average take-up is 79.8%, up from 78.9%.

Dr Richard Roberts, immunisation lead for the National Public Health Service (NPHS) for Wales, told BBC Wales News Online he had seen a change in parents' opinion of the vaccine.

"(The figures) fit in with our impression talking to parents that they are being reassured by the latest research which shows the benefits of MMR far outweigh the risks.

"There is also more accurate media reporting on the MMR vaccination."

But grandmother Yvonne Davies, who paid for her granddaughter to receive separate measles, mumps and rubella vaccines privately, said many parents did not know how to get the individual vaccines.

Mrs Davies from Caerphilly, south Wales, added: "Parents don't realise they can get the vaccines singly and it isn't made easy for them.

"The rise in people getting the MMR jab may just be down to a lack of choice.

"I have a new granddaughter and we will do exactly the same again - people must be given freedom of choice."

A spokeswoman for the National Public Health Service in Wales said that uptake of the MMR remained at a dangerously low level, despite the latest rise.

Measles outbreaks

She said: "Experts agree that a 95% uptake is needed to protect a population

"The level across Wales is 78% and in some areas, such as Swansea and north east Wales, it is as low as 69%.

"Over the last 18 months there have been outbreaks of mumps and measles in Wales.

"Previously, there were few cases following a high uptake of MMR in the early 1990s.

"It is now likely that, because the uptake has fallen below safe levels, we will be seeing greater numbers of cases and even epidemics."

The National Public Health Service is responsible for initiatives such as immunisation programmes in Wales.

Vaccine programme

Its counterpart in England, the Health Protection Agency, published the latest statistics on MMR uptake.

HPA experts welcomed the increase and said they hoped more parents would come forward to take up the vaccine.

Dr Natasha Crowcroft of the HPA, who co-ordinates the vaccine uptake programme, said: "It's too early to say we've turned the corner, but I hope we have."

According to the HPA statistics, MMR uptake for children reaching 24 months of age between July and September 2003 rose from the previous quarter in Wales by 1.5%, followed by the west midlands (1.3%) and the south east and south west, which both saw increases of 0.8%.

The rise comes following what the HPA said was a downward trend since the mid 1990s.

But no area in the UK reached the target for 95% of children to have the MMR in order to give "herd immunity".

Last March, at least eight children in Cardiff caught measles in an outbreak which was the first in the city in a decade.