Blogging about it as I speak. Its ridiculous what people will broadcast these days, whats scarier though is that people will listen...

I can't get onto the site. I hope it hasn't been taken down.

I find it particularly shocking that Ben Goldacre of all people has fallen for the pro-MMR bad science. We live in an increasingly overmedicated society, and a potentially harmful cocktail of drugs with 50-50 chance of protecting against a fairly low-risk childhood illness isn't exactly going to help that.
There is no way I would ever expose my children to the risks associated with the MMR vaccine, particularly in the face of the shoddy testing.

@ gordonjcp

Although I do agree that society is over medicated in some cases, the MMR vaccine is important. Low-risk isn't what I would call the diseases, they are potentially fatal and failing that can cause some permanent, and quite serious, conditions. The MMR on the other hand is safe (claims otherwise have proven unfounded) and will prevent you catching any of these conditions.

I, and everyone I know, had measles, mumps and German measles as a child. None of them died from it. I personally don't believe that the MMR vaccine is safe, and I have seen nothing that might convince me it's safe. We know roughly the likelihood of other vaccines causing potentially dangerous reactions are. The MMR vaccine has a very low reported incidence of side-effects - suspiciously low. Thanks, think I'll pass.

while you're passing on the mmr, make sure you stay out of range of my grandchildren! they are exposed to enough in our polluted air without having to worry about catching an easily preventable disease.

I also had those diseases - I am fine, other people who had those diseases are now dead or disabled.

There is *no* evidence that MMR is unsafe, I could personally believe that the moon was made of cheese, it doesn't make me right.

All the evidence that the MMR is dangerous has been disproved, to say that this is 'suspicious' is like saying creationists are right because the fossil record is 'suspiciously' obvious.

The only reason to think that the MMR is dangerous is if you believe *everything* that the papers print, and as we know, they *never* get anything wrong...

As the number of cases of Measles increases due to a lack of uptake of vaccination fully expect to see children dying from it.

But don't believe me, believe the World Health Organisation.

I also had those diseases - I am fine, other people who had those diseases are now dead or disabled.

... and some children given the MMR vaccine are also dead or disabled. Anecdotal evidence doesn't really hold up here.

All the evidence that the MMR is dangerous has been disproved

Not really, no. One study with very carefully chosen results has "disproved" it.

But don't believe me, believe the World Health Organisation.

The WHO isn't in the business of improving health, it's in the business of getting drugs sold. Why should I believe them?

"The WHO isn't in the business of improving health, it's in the business of getting drugs sold."

Ah well, thank you for that. Since you have completely destroyed your credibility, I know I can safely ignore everything you say.

Okay, we'll skip the anecdotal evidence and go to the cold hard facts.

1988. Year MMR was introduced. 16 deaths per year directly attributable to measles alone, never mind the other stuff.

2001. Two infants died after having the MMR jab. Even the most hysterical media stories were admitting that the cause of death was uncertain and that it was merely "thought" that the MMR "may" have played a part.

So even if we accept that their deaths were caused by the jab and nothing else (which I don't) that's 14 lives saved per year, minimum.

"I, and everyone I know, had measles, mumps and German measles as a child. None of them died from it."

You realise that anyone who DID die as a toddler after getting one of those illnesses, isn't exactly going to be sitting in the pub telling you about that one time they died.

You realise that anyone who DID die as a toddler after getting one of those illnesses, isn't exactly going to be sitting in the pub telling you about that one time they died.

Okay, so why does no-one I know have a brother or sister who died of measles? Surely if thousands of children could die of measles if they don't get theMMR jab *now*, then deaths from measles would have been more common 30 years ago when I was of measles-getting age? Or, has something mysterious happened to our children's immune systems?

One in a thousand children who get measles will die. One in a hundred gets a serious, lifelong complication - blindness, brain damage, other. A toddler will probably know, personally, about fifty people - that's being generous, it's the adult 'tribe' of connections an average person has. It is unlikely that every one of those fifty people are a) also toddlers and b) got measles.

It is entirely possible, with very simple maths, to show how a) no one you know died and b) why *even so*, measles is unacceptably deadly.

When it *was* accepted that MMR might be dangerous (recent news stories suggest the originator of the MMR scare faked his results), it was only posited that the risk was 1 in 10 000. In other words, even when MMR was thought to be scary, it was still ten times less scary than measles.

It's like campaigning for the banning of ambulances because sometimes people are knocked down by ambulances. Worse, it's like campaigning for the banning of ambulance because someone might have been knocked down, or possibly not, by an ambulance.

perhaps I should introduce myself to you so that you will at least know someone who WAS affected by one of the illnesses, German Measles. I had it when I was 4 (1969) as I remember it it was a shitty experience, I was severely ill for what seemed an age to me at the time. I lost so much of my body weight that I couldn't walk when I was over it, then to cap it all when I went to school I found out that I couldn't see properly, it had affected the lenses in my eyes. I have worn glasses since 1972, I'm lucky I could have lost my sight.
My daughter has had the MMR jab & I feel that she is safer as a result.

We live in an increasingly over-medicated society, correct, but the MMR vaccination is hardly part of that increasing trend. It has been around for longer than I have, and I don't exactly worry about folk asking for my I.D. when buying booze...

For the love of Mike, no-one feed gordon any further. His posts are such a mish-mash of anecdote, cod science and tinhattery as to be downright hilarious. I actually burst out laughing at "Reported side effects are SUSPICIOUSLY low!"

Tom, I note that despite your ideological split from Dr. Crippen, you've managed to pick up his favourite descriptor of "wibble"!

such a mish-mash of anecdote, cod science and tinhattery as to be downright hilarious

Pretty much like the ravings of the pro-MMR nutjobs. But hey, if you want to believe the ignorant tosh peddled by the tabloid press, go right ahead.

How very dare you call people who are pro -mmr "nutjobs". Sure, there are risks associated with "all" vaccinations but I never had a moments doubt that my son would be inoculated and I find it offensive that you would call anyone who is all for this names..............................................my son s 100% fine btw.

I think you may have something chronically backwards there, so much so it is now crystal clear that you are either a troll or a drooling imbecile. Either way, the good people of the United Kingdom would be most thankful if you would be so kind as to refrain from reproducing.