CAROLYN LECKIE: Mercury-free vaccines.

Byline: CAROLYN LECKIE 

I AM pro- vaccination but this Government is really testing my patience over the issue.

First, they deny choice of single vaccine alternatives to MMR. Then they deny that mercury in vaccines is a problem. Then they admit it is a problem but don''t make the mercury-free, expensive vaccines widely available. And then, lo and behold, they announce the benefits of new mercury-free vaccines - but as part of a five-in-one. Sounds like a supermarket offer, eh?

That number of vaccines, in one go, given to tiny babies, is simply not tested.

This will further undermine confidence in any vaccination policy that will exist.

But the Government has its response waiting in the wings - they plan to introduce a compulsory jag for meningitis.

What the Government is failing to understand is that you cannot create public trust through force. That can only begin to be restored by making single, mercury-free vaccines available on the NHS.