UK: Leeds project to boost parents’ confidence in MMR choices

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Leeds project to boost parents’ confidence in MMR choices

Wednesday 9th July 2008

With several hundred thousand unvaccinated children across the UK, health

protection experts are hoping that new research at the University of Leeds

will give parents better information about the MMR vaccine and lead to an

increase in immunisation.

The latest figures from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) show that cases

of measles in London reached a new peak in May and a teenage boy from West

Yorkshire became the first person in the UK to die from measles for two

years. Last year there was a record 971 reported cases of measles ­ a rise

of 30% on the previous year ­ making MMR an urgent priority for the medical

profession.

A collaboration between health experts at Leeds and Sydney universities is

the fourth MMR research project undertaken by the School of Healthcare after

parents confidence was knocked following controversy over the safety of the

triple vaccine.

Previous research by the Leeds team showed that parents feel isolated when

making their decision. The new project will use interactive software

developed at Sydney University to help identify parents' concerns and to

provide the information needed to answer their questions on the combined

measles, mumps and rubella vaccine.

Dr Schweiger, consultant in communicable disease control at the West

Yorkshire Health Protection Unit, said: " Health professionals need to have

credible and appropriate information to give to those parents about to make

a decision about immunising their children. "

Simon Balmer, Head of Health Protection for the Leeds Primary Care Trust,

who are also supporting the research project, said: " With the right

information we believe that most parents will choose to vaccinate their

children against these serious illnesses. "

Dr Cath , a member of the research team led by Professor Francine

Cheater, said: " Parents criticise the literature and information currently

available. They don't feel confident about saying yes to the vaccine when

they don't know enough.

" Our previous research shows that many parents were unconvinced that the MMR

vaccine is safe and 62% did not consider that their MMR decision was

informed. However, there was little opportunity to talk about reaching a

decision because GPs and nurses simply don't have the time. We found that

some parents feel pressured into making an instant decision about MMR with

health professionals assuming they will vaccinate their children. "

This new project, funded with £242,252 by the National Institute for Health

Research, will see researchers at the University of Leeds recruit hundreds

of new parents about to make their first decision on vaccinating their

children. They will test out different ways of helping parents make their

MMR choices

University of Leeds

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Sheri Nakken, former R.N., MA, Hahnemannian Homeopath

Vaccination Information & Choice Network, Nevada City CA & Wales UK

Vaccines - http://www.wellwithin1.com/vaccine.htm

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