WORCESTERSHIRE Health Authority has revealed members are concerned about the number of parents choosing not to allow their children to be administered with the combined MMR vaccine.

In the year to September, only 87 per cent of children in the county were given the controversial vaccine, with many opting to not give their children the jab as a result of health fears.

Many parents are concerned it can lead to autism and bowel problems, which has led the rate for children being given the combined vaccine to fall over recent years.

To date, no evidence has been found to link the vaccine and the conditions.

"In 2000 the uptake in the county was 89 per cent and over the last three to four years there's been a gradual decline," said Dr Alan Tweddell, consultant in communicable disease control.

"Obviously, any decline in MMR uptake gives us cause for concern and the full impact of the controversy over the last 12 months has still to emerge.

Safe and effective

"Worcestershire Health Authority will continue to support the MMR triple vaccine as the safest and most effective way of inoculating children against measles, mumps and rubella."

The Government has set a target of 95 per cent of children across the country to have the combined vaccine, but national uptake is only 85 per cent.

Worcester MP Mike Foster has also voiced his concerns about the drop, and believes it could lead to an increase in the diseases.

"Any fall in the rate of children being inoculated is a worry for me and those involved in public health," he said.

"If the vaccination rate falls there's a real risk diseases which can be controlled or eradicated will run rife among our young children.

"Everybody has a duty to look at the evidence which the health experts have provided on this and I'd urge them to get their children vaccinated."

Dr Peter Mansfield, who gives the single vaccinations in Worcester, said the number of children at his clinics was rising, and on some days enquiry lines were receiving up to 200 calls.

"With the single vaccines we're actually preventing an epidemic as parents who may not vaccinate their children at all are being given a choice," he said.

But those who choose to attend a private clinic for single vaccinations are not included in official statistics.