Single jabs call by autism charity.

Byline: Steve Bagnall

THE North Wales branch of the National Autism Society last night called for single jabs to be made available to all parents amid fears over the MMR vaccine.

However, the society's regional councillor, John Gillibrand, welcomed Government plans to screen all pre-school children for the brain disorder.

It will allow an investigation of its causes and any links to the MMR vaccine.

Mr Gillibrand said: "I think this is a brilliant move but this represents the first step to provide a full statistical picture of people with autism. There also needs to be a central registry.

"We support the calls for separate jabs to be made available for everybody until further research has been done into the MMR vaccine.

"We are also concerned at the unfairness of the situation where some parents can afford to pay for the jabs while others can't.

"Until further research is done we are not taking a pro or anti-MMR vaccine stance. But there has to be a proper statistical database got together to look at whether MMR is linked to autism."

Autism is on the rise and Mr Gillibrand claimed it was reaching crisis levels.

He called on the Welsh Assembly to prepare a report into autism and provision for the condition.

New research by London scientists has concluded there is no link between the jab and the disorder.

Scientists at London's Royal Free Hospital and University College Medical School said a study of 473 autistic children born in London between 1979 and 1998 found no difference in the illness rates before and after MMR was introduced in 1988.

The US-based Autism Research Institute says youngsters being diagnosed have risen world-wide during the past decade from about five children per 10,000 to 60 per 10,000. Experts at the Institute believe the most likely cause is vaccination of infants.