Thanks a lot, Andy

A measles outbreak is sweeping the country, and we all know why. In the 90s, immunisation rates with the MMR vaccine were approaching the 95% level which the WHO has estimated to be the percentage required to eradicate the diseases completely in a few years. Then along came Andy Wakefield with his research suggesting a link with the development of autism. And with the active co-operation of a twisted and frankly intellectually moribund press, the immunisation rate had fallen to 10% or less. I remember talking to a journo about it at the time and saying how crossing the road or driving on a motorway for half an hour was much more dangerous than the MMR, and being told: Look, the public aren't interested in comparisons like that."

 And let's not forget Tony Blair's culpability in all this. When he was asked if his new son Leo had had the MMR, he refused to divulge what had been done on the grounds of "confidentiality". Yet here was brilliant opportunity for our great leader to set an example for the population by saying ; "I have the right not to tell you my medical secrets, but in this case I am breaking that rule and telling you we did have him done, because my wife and I think it's so important that we, and everyone else eligible, should have the vaccine."

When it emerged that Wakefield's research had been funded by the law frim which was preparing a class actions suite on behalf on a group of parents with autistic children, the GMC took a hand and now Dr Wakefield is a doctor no longer. Too late. The damage had been done, and it took years for the immunisation rate to recover.

Now the principle at-risk group is the cohort of children who missed out on their vaccine in the years 2000-2005, and they're the ones going down like flies right now. Measles is a very unpleasant disease which always causes a lot of misery and suffering. In some cases it is much worse, with permanent lung disease, brain damage and even death as consequences. Right now, hundreds of children are suffering, all because of one ambitious and corrupt doctor and the media who took him on as their hero. Damn him, and damn them too!