MHRA issues reassurance on vaccine safety in children
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has reaffirmed that childhood vaccination is one of the 'most effective and safest' ways to protect against infectious diseases.
A statement issued by the regulator's chief safety officer, Dr Alison Cave, cited 'multiple large, well-conducted studies involving millions of children worldwide’, which have ‘consistently demonstrated that there is no evidence that vaccines cause autism in children’.
Dr Cave added: 'Vaccination remains one of the most effective and safest ways to protect against serious and potentially life-threatening diseases, supported by decades of scientific evidence in the UK and internationally.'
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The MHRA underlined that all vaccines approved for use in the UK undergo rigorous safety, quality and efficacy assessments and, once licensed, are subject to ongoing safety surveillance, including analysis of real-world data and international evidence.
The agency encouraged parents to follow NHS vaccination guidance and speak to a healthcare professional if they had questions.
Dr Cave said: ‘The benefits of vaccination are endorsed by the NHS and all major UK public health and paediatric bodies as part of the recommended routine childhood vaccination schedule.
‘Patient safety is our top priority,’ she added.
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The statement comes amid concerns regarding a decline in vaccination uptake for children.
The latest quarterly uptake at 12 months of age for the vaccine against meningococcal group B bacteria (MenB) showed a fall by 0.3 percentage points to 91.4%.
There are also concerns over the early start to the flu season this year, with experts stressing the importance of vaccination in countering the rise in cases.
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Thousands of community pharmacies have signed up to deliver flu vaccines to two- and three-year-olds this year as a one-season pilot running until 31 March 2026.
In addition to flu concerns, a rise in Covid-19 cases has prompted calls for eligible groups to take up winter vaccinations.
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