BUPA bans single jabs for babies at hospitals

BUPA, Britain's largest private hospital group, yesterday gave its backing to the Government's stance on the controversial MMR jab.

It said it would stop doctors giving children inoculations for measles, mumps and rubella separately because the Department of Health had "made it clear" that the combined MMR jab was safer. It means that in many areas parents will now struggle to find clinics offering the separate jabs.

Although Bupa does not provide the separate inoculations itself, it has always allowed GPs to perform them in its hospitals. But yesterday the company told doctors to stop giving the series of six injections, costing a total of £460, despite the growing popularity with parents.

There has been increasing concern about the safety of the combined MMR jab since an independent study linked it to autism and bowel disease in children.

The Bupa hospital at Whalley Range, Greater Manchester, was the first to shut its doors to the procedure. Dr Simon Fordham, who runs the Manchester clinic, said he had no doubts that the combined MMR jab was safe. But he insists that he gives the separate jabs because the alternative is that some parents would not have their children vaccinated at all.

"Bupa HQ have told us that they don't want us giving single dose vaccines anymore," he said. "I don't know why. It is a real problem, I don't know if I will be able to find anywhere suitable with all the equipment we need.

"For us to start from scratch and rent a building and equip it would mean borrowing thousands of pounds without any guarantee of getting that money back."

He added: "I haven't banked any of the deposit cheques I have had from parents who are waiting (for the separate inoculations) and if I can't find anywhere in the next month I will have to write to them saying, sorry, but here is your cheque back."

A Bupa spokesman said: "Bupa Hospitals Ltd does not offer vaccination or inoculation of children. Previously single vaccines have been available from a private GP working independently of Bupa Hospitals. The service is no longer available at Bupa Hospital Manchester as Bupa is following Department of Health guidelines which make it clear that their advice is for infants to have the combined MMR jab."

The huge surge in demand across Britain has already caused a worldwide shortage of the single-dose vaccines and manufacturers will not be able to supply anymore until next month.

The Government has insisted MMR is safe and refuses to offer separate vaccines on the NHS. But despite the controversy over the MMR jab, Prime Minister Tony Blair has refused to reveal whether his own son has had the injection.

A spokesman for the Department of Health said: "We don't have any control over what Bupa do. Single vaccines imported into this country are not licensed so we can't vouch for their safety or effectiveness. MMR is the safest and most effective way of protecting children against these diseases."