Sir, – The MMR vaccine is in the news because US president Donald Trump wants to separate the vaccines and give one measles, one mumps and, then one rubella, all at separate visits.
Missing from his message is the voice of children. MMR is two recommended doses. Effectively, Trump is proposing that instead of two needles – one at 12 months and one at school age – children will get six needles. Triple pain, triple the chance of side effects.
Triple the chance of missing a shot at the time when the science says the risk of infection and serious disease or death is highest.
The combined MMR vaccine prevents serious, complicated and potentially fatal illness. Measles causes up to one in 10 children to be hospitalised. There can be minor vaccine side effects, and serious side effects are known and rare. It does not cause autism. Finally, two combined vaccines (needles) are better than six.
RM Block
Dr Catherine Conlon,
Ballintemple,
Cork.
