Need to be aware that many private clinics are trying to get approval for a new vaccine following the Merck withdrawal. There are none approved at the moment and at least one is following a similar route to a previously rejected vaccine under a new name .... it is important that vaccines are proven to be both safe and effective not simply safe.
The MHRA (the body which ultimately manages these approvals in the UK) last week posted its findings on statements made on the CIC website ..
Advertising investigations
13 September 2012
The MHRA was made aware of information presented on the Children?s Immunisation Centre (CIC) website about Medi-Mumps and a related press release. The MHRA was concerned that the information provided an unbalanced view of the safety and efficacy of the vaccine because it did not mention the MHRA?s concerns and previous CSM advice or that the product was unlicensed.
We understood that the Medi-Mumps vaccine is manufactured from the same stock and processed in the same way as Pavivac mumps vaccine. The MHRA, acting on advice from an independent advisory committee, the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM), has for a number of years objected to the importation of the Pavivac product because there is insufficient information available to assure its safety, quality and efficacy. See statement from the committee on safety of medicines (82Kb) for more details.
CIC amended the websites to remove the information about Medi-Mumps.
Date case raised: 3 April 2012
Date action agreed: 2 May 2012
Date of publication: 13 September 2012
We, like many parents, have completed all our vaccinations except the mumps in both our children. We would consider the MMR however we have asked our GP and a Consultant to confirm that it is known to be safe to double/triple dose on the elements of MMR already received, and no one can say. We have written to Merck and received a reply passing us to another part of the empire and we are still waiting. We have written to our MP.
The NHS Choices website states it is ok but not the basis for this claim. A qualified PHd student in this field informally advised us that it should be ok because the body will ignore the known elements of the MMR.
We will pursue an answer from Merck but feel the government should do more to help clarify the position and reassure parents 'stranded' by the unplanned change in Merck's production policy in 2011. (This is not the government' 'fault' although some claim that there was political pressure on Merck in the US at least) but a duty of care to support families in this position should be a priority as it will in due course undermine herd immunity.