Top Cheshire clinic director Tracey Turton is encouraging all parents to ensure their children are immunised against measles.
Tracey, the founder of Cheshire Natural Health, Warrington, was responding to the revelation that more than 20 cases of measles had been reported in Cheshire in 2008. In the past two months, the Stretton clinic has seen a 10 to 15 per cent increase in the number of enquiries about vaccinations.
“We’re not anti-vaccine at Cheshire Natural Health – in fact we support the Government’s move to ensure all children are vaccinated against MMR. We feel strongly that concerned parents should have the choice of a single component vaccines or the combined MMR.
“Parents are naturally worried about the possible links between the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine and autism.  Unfortunately there is now a lot of confusion over the issue and some parents are reluctantly doing nothing through fear.”
“We urge all parents to appreciate that measles isn’t just a harmful childhood disease – it can develop into pneumonia and encephalitis,” says Tracey.
Cheshire has one of the highest rates of parents refusing the combined MMR vaccination and this has led to fears of an epidemic in the county. “As health professionals, we need to stop any possible epidemic in its track.
“Parents should also appreciate that they can still get their children and teenagers vaccinated now, even if they missed out in earlier childhood.”
At present the mumps single vaccine is not available worldwide, but Cheshire Natural Health is offering the single component measles and rubella vaccine at the clinic for a total of £206.  Immunisation clinics are held once a month in association with Wellcare Private General Practice.

For more details on Cheshire Natural Health telephone 01925 730123 or visit www.cheshirenaturalhealth.co.uk

More details about the vaccines are available from
www.wellcare.co.uk