Written question asked by Margaret Ewing (Scottish National Party) on Friday, 2 February 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 8 February 2001. It was answered by Yvette Cooper (Labour) on Thursday, 8 February 2001 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when and for how long his Department reviewed the research carried out by Professor John O'Leary at Coombe Women's Hospital in Dublin on autism and the MMR vaccine; and what the conclusions of the review were.

Answer: Mrs. Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when and for how long his Department reviewed the research carried out by Professor John O'Leary at Coombe Women's Hospital in Dublin on autism and the MMR vaccine; and what the conclusions of the review were. [149344] Yvette Cooper: The United Kingdom health departments are advised on all matters concerning immunisation by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The JCVI reviewed a paper entitled `Enterocolitis in children with developmental disorders', of which Professor O'Leary was a co-author, at its meeting of October 2000. The JCVI concluded that the paper did not provide any new evidence to alter its views on the safety of MMR vaccine. We are aware that Professor O'Leary also gave a presentation to the United States of America Congressional Oversight Committee on Autism and Immunisation in April 2000. The material presented to the Oversight Committee has, as far as we are aware, not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 149344; 362 c660W
Session: 2000-01
Subjects: Children Autism Health hazards Safety Vaccination Reviews Side effects MMR vaccine Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk