A GRANDFATHER has told how his family have overcome concerns over the MMR vaccine in light of the on-going measles outbreak.

David Thomas, who is a Powys County Councillor, said members of his family had previously shunned the vaccine as they once feared a link between it and his now 18-year-old grandson developing autism.

But he said his children have now taken the decision to vaccinate their other children in light of the outbreak of the potential lethal measles disease.

"Had it not been for this epidemic and the publicity around it, I don't think they would have got these MMR jabs," said the Upper Swansea Valley councillor.

Now discredited research from the late 1990s by Dr Andrew Wakefield, which led to him being struck off the medical register by the General Medical Council (GMC) in 2010 for serious professional misconduct, had wrongly suggested a link between the MMR vaccine and autism.

Cllr Thomas, who says he has 'no reason' to doubt the safety of the MMR vaccine, said some families have been wary of the vaccine.

Last week Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones confirmed his children had received both MMR jabs and urged other parents to do the same.

He told AMs: "People should have their children immunised with both doses of MMR. My children were, I've got no problem in saying that."

Dr Sumina Azam, director of public health for Powys teaching Health Board said: "The concerns raised over 10 years ago have all been debunked. MMR is one of the safest vaccines we have."

The health board has said the MMR vaccine has been in use worldwide for many years and is safe to use. It is recommended by the World Health Organisation, the Department of Health and Public Health Wales.

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