Well said Judy and bob! The medical profession is totally at fault for trying to save children from their ignorant scientifically illiterate parents. The propaganda I feel is coming from a little closer to home. Make science exams easier!

Matthew, London,

Deciding whether or not to immunise your child should be done regarding the symptoms and possible long term affects of the illness and the pros and cons weighed up seriously. Not on a whim because it is fashionable to question a system which has saved many lives and improved the quality and life expectancy for a number of years. It is not like deciding whether you will buy barn or free range eggs. You are deciding whether you would risk a small unproven link of a child developing autism or your child catching a horrible disease, then it spreading and mutating thus infecting those who are vaccinated. These vaccines are not developed and systematically given to children for free for the fun of it.

Louise, Nottingham, UK

When my daughters were young they had the measles jab on it's own preschool. At 13 they had the Rubella jab.They did not have the mumps jab Boys had the mumps jab at 13 but did not have the Rubella jab. This worked well for years. Then the drug companies brought out the MMR jab. We are told by the PTB that the old single jabs are "not safe". Utter rubbish!
The truth is the triple jab only saves time and money. It does not offer any significant extra protection. Rubella and Mumps are minor in young children. Maybe we should have the choice of the single Measles jab as before, and proper investigation into the measles jab and Autism? My grandson had the MMR a year later than normal. He ran temperatures of 106F and screamed like a trapped animal for 3 days. After this he went back to nappies and stopped talking. The Govt. should listen to parents, and stop telling us it is all a coincidence. More like a big cover up. Does compensation have anything to do with the denials?

Beryl, WINDSOR, England

To Annie, Cambridge, UK you are obviously not aware that a single jab is not available in this country. This story is just scare mongering as in 99% of cases with measles it is nothing more than a nuisance. Obviously in the very very small number where there are problems this is worrying but you child still has far more chance of being killed in a road accident than by having measles.

As a parent the benefits of the MMR do not outweigh the possible side effects and just because the government has pushed very hard for the medical establishment to agree that the MMR is safe does not make me think any differently. ``

joe kellie, edinburgh, scotland

The reason boys should be immunized against rubella is to prevent them from infecting older women who might be pregnant. Girls should be immunized against mumps to prevent them from infecting older boys and men. And anyone who has witnessed or cared for a child who has brain damage from high fevers associated with measles or any other reason would want to prevent this. As a woman who raised a child with brain impairment I would beg anyone to try to prevent this disease. While it should be administered with care, it should be administered.

Gail Dolly, McAlpin, Florida, USA

More facts please, measles hotspots where and what is the community makeup? Also how many of these cases can be attributed to immigrants as there are no medical checks carried out at our borders.

Steve P, Leeds, England

How gratifying for Dr Fitzpatrick - perhaps the loudest and least rational of DR Wakefield's critics - that one third of the new measles cases should occur in his own borough. Or could this be a coincidence?

Susan Hamlyn, London, UK

I would be more inclined to agree with MMR if the government could convince me that all of the immigrants being let into the UK have been immunised? From past experience immunisation does not stop one catching an illness, far from it. Personally I am cynical enough to think that the large pharmaceutical companies are just pushing their products once again! Both of my children were fully immunised, but, had I known then what I know now I would not have bothered. My son had a reaction to his second MMR jab, I was advised by my GP to leave out the measles portion on the next jab. I am very glad I did this, my son has grown up now (19) but I believe had I decided against my GP's advice my son may have been Autistic! He certainly shows some slight autistic tendencies - enough to convince me that not enough research has been done despite claims to the contrary! Methinks they protest too much. I would never have allowed my children to be guinea pigs had I been better informed in my 20s

JJ, Auckland, New Zealand

I had my children vaccinated with desumo in worcester and was very pleased with the service they provided as they ensured that all the vaccines were available to me and I do think the nhs ought to let people have the mmr in single vaccines if they wish

nicky, Kidderminster, Worcs

Any parent refusing to give their child a jab --- single or the MMR is grossly irresponsible and should be fined!

Annie, Cambridge, UK

If doctors were allowed to give measles vaccine separately this wouldnt have happened. It is only the insistence that children are vaccinated with mumps and rubella at the same time that has caused parents to hesitate.

Why do boys need to be vaccinated against rubella? Is there a serious risk if boys get rubella? It used to be girls of 13 that used to be vaccinated against it so that they would not contract rubella when pregnant.

Why are girls vaccinated against mumps. I know it can be unpleasant for older boys and men and can cause infertility in men but surely boys could be vaccinated later in life rather than pump all our babies full of multiple vaccines.

It is all too easy to blame parents for not giving their children MMR but no-one seems to be querying whether all these vaccines are necessary for both sexes.

Sue Paisley, Halstead, England

If Government would relent and bring back single vaccines parents would be more likely to vaccinate their children.

Caroline Vaughan, Porthcawl,

This is scaremongering, if your children are healthy, they can be nursed through measles, unpleasant as it is. Overloading your children with vaccine must surely be less advantageous. Beside which, how did we all survive before these 'compulsory' vaccines? How odd that the human race is at it's highest number ever, mainly in countries where there is no vaccination. How odd equally, that problems such as Autism, ADHD and specific learning difficulty are all increasing along with an increase of the number of vaccinations....25 by the age of two I believe.

Judy , Liverpool, england

My question is how much this rise is caused by immigration, and how much is really as a result of failure of the UK born population to immunise their children. To me it feels like something is being left unsaid as was the case when figures showing an increase in both TB and Aids were released a few years ago.

Peter Arnold, London,

these scare mongering stories are the real prpaganda. Measles was already on the decline when MMR was introduced

bob, harlow,

I can understand why the government want people to use the MMR vaccine, but I still don't understand why they will not allow parents to pay the extra to have the seperate vaccines.
Especially a government that supports 'choice'.

Mike Poulsen, Reading, Berkshire