Parents warned over measles jab

A mother who chose to give her baby the single-shot alternatives to the controversial combined MMR vaccine at an unlicensed clinic has been told there is a "strong possibility" her son may have contracted measles.

Denise Goldsmith's 19-month-old son Noah was admitted to Great Ormond Street Hospital on Tuesday last week with suspected measles. Blood test results expected in the next few days may confirm her worst fears.

The baby had received single jab vaccines – costing £65 a shot – against measles and rubella at the Elstree Aero-Medical Centre in Hertfordshire in September.

However, the clinic had been operating without a licence for almost a year and was accused earlier this month of not preparing the vaccines properly.

More than 1,000 parents whose infants were innoculated at the private clinic and its sister branch in Sheffield between June and December last year have been contacted by the NHS and told to get the MMR vaccine as a safety measure.

The Elstree centre was closed last Thursday by the National Care Standards Commission, and the Sheffield clinic – held in the Hillsborough Sports Arena – is no longer running following a decision by the arena managers last week.

The General Medical Council said it was "considering launching an investigation" into Dr David Pugh, the director of Lifeline Care Ltd, which runs the clinics.

Mrs Goldsmith, of north London, said: "We've been through such a horrible time, Noah was so, so ill. The doctors said they were pretty sure he had measles."

Malcolm Peters, whose 22-month-old son was vaccinated with the single jabs at the Elstree centre received blood test results yesterday confirming his baby was not protected against measles or rubella.

The NHS – which offers MMR for free – currently refuses to offer the single jab.