The Scottish Independent Nurseries Association (SINA) has called on the Scottish Executive to give nurseries guidance on having policies on the MMR vaccine.
SINA said that childcare workers needed guidance from health boards or the Scottish Executive because they could be caught between parents with opposing views on having their children vaccinated. While some parents may decline the vaccine, others might not want their children sharing space with unvaccinated children.
Figures from the Scottish executive showed that in 2002, the MMR vaccination rate had fallen to an eight-year low of 85.8 per cent of children aged 12 to 15 months, after fears of a possible link between MMR and autism. Doctors reported a 27 per cent increase in mumps and an 18 per cent rise in suspected cases of measles, while rubella rose by 22 per cent among children and young people under 15.
Last month Dr Simon Murch, a researcher whose work originally caused parents alarm, said he now believed MMR was not a risk factor in autism. Instead, there was a real danger of a measles epidemic if significant numbers of parents continued to avoid letting their children have the MMR jab.
Public health experts believe 95 per cent of children need to have the vaccine if it is to protect a whole community. In young children measles can damage eyesight and sometimes can be fatal.
Patricia McGinty, a director of SINA, said, 'Guidance would be helpful - then individual nurseries would not be left to make up their own policy on what is a very emotive situation.
'We do not want that responsibility. If you insist that a child has the MMR vaccine and then there is a reaction to it, people could blame the nursery. Guidance from the health board would stop nurseries having to make subjective decisions.'
Ms McGinty, who is also a director of Bishopbriggs Childcare Centre in Edinburgh, said that SINA did not have a policy on MMR and that nurseries who were concerned should speak to their local health board about it.
'We have discussed this here this week, and it may be that it comes to a point when you consider not admitting a child who has not had MMR,' she said. 'I hope it does not come to that. The pressure could come from other parents, or it may come from the health board.'
Uptake of the MMR vaccine varies considerably across Scotland. In the Highlands, the vaccination rate has dropped to 76 per cent, while the Shetlands had a rate of 51 per cent. A study by the Highland Health Board concluded that rates were low because local residents were keen on more natural lifestyles and tended to shun vaccines.
Gwen Garner, practice development officer with the Scottish Pre-School Play Association, said playgroups should be reluctant to step into the MMR debate.
She said, 'If children become ill, then we discourage parents from bringing them to the playgroup until they are well. But we could not stop them just because they had not been vaccinated. These decisions are made well before the toddler attends playgroup.
'We hold information that members can access about exclusions and the incubation of diseases. We always want to be on the look-out for children who are unwell, but this winter coming we want to be extra vigilant.
'We would point parents in the direction of health professionals if they have concerns. It's down to parents whether they get their child vaccinated or not.'
