THE doctor heading the immunisation programme in the Medway area has warned of deaths from measles unless more children have the MMR vaccine. Dr Alan Beattie issued the stark warning after latest figures showed the take-up for the controversial vaccine was now less than 90 per cent in the area.

Dr Beattie, district immunisation co-ordinator, said it was inevitable measles would eventually spread to Medway at that rate.He said: "There will be deaths unless more parents vaccinate their children. You cannot have a take-up rate that is this low without consequences.

"Statistically, if one in 600 children dies from measles, then an outbreak in Medway would lead to deaths. You cannot get away from that. We know that measles is in the area, because there have been cases in Streatham, London. It is not a million miles away."

Some parents have been reluctant to give their children the triple vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella after claims that it is linked to bowel disorders and autism.

A survey of two-year-olds in Medway shows that just 88 per cent of children had had the MMR vaccine.

That compares with 92 per cent the previous year, and 97 per cent six years ago. If the take-up rate continues to drop, all those not vaccinated would be at risk and so would babies who were too young to have the MMR.

The effects of rubella or mumps outbreaks would also be serious, although fatalities were less likely, Dr Beattie added.

He dismissed claims that the vaccine was linked to bowel disorder and autism. He stressed: "The evidence is very clear. Every vaccine has side-effects, and the MMR is no exception, but there is no link between the vaccine and bowel disorder or autism."

West Kent Health Authority blamed the gradual reduction in the proportion of children being vaccinated on bad publicity.

Dr Mathi Chandrakumar, director of communicable disease control in Kent, said: "We want to reassure parents that the MMR vaccine is very safe. Measles can be a very serious illness which can be fatal and the rubella infection can cause serious damage to an unborn foetus.

"It is essential that we prevent these diseases and vaccination is the best form of prevention."