National deaf-blind charity Sense issues statement of support for MMR documentary

This page is research from an investigation by Brian Deer for the UK's Channel 4 Television and The Sunday Times of London into a campaign linking the MMR children's vaccine with autism. | Go to part I: The Lancet scandal | Go to part II: The Wakefield factor

On the day following the TV programme, Sense, the national charity for deaf-blind children affected by rubella, issued a statement describing the documentary as an excellent reminder of the need for MMR vaccination. Sense can be contacted via its website

Confidence in MMR justified

(19th November 2004)

The Channel 4 Dispatches broadcast 'MMR: What they didn't tell you' (Thursday 18 November) should boost parents' confidence in MMR, according to Sense, a national charity set up by parents of deafblind children affected by maternal rubella. Public confidence in the vaccine had been severely dented by the claim of a link between it and autism. The shaky basis of this claim is now all too evident.

According to Stephen Rooney, Head of Communications at Sense, the Dispatches broadcast was an excellent reminder of just how important it is for children to be given MMR. "MMR is essential for preventing the spread of measles, mumps and rubella in the community. All three diseases can have devastating effects but people tend to forget the consequences of rubella.

"Before the introduction of MMR in 1988, a number of children were born each year with lifelong disability because of rubella. Since MMR was introduced, the number of congenital rubella births and the number of rubella-related terminations of pregnancy have both fallen dramatically. That's a major change and it shows just how successful the MMR programme has been."

Sense supports people affected by rubella and their families.