CONTROVERSY still surrounds the debate on the mumps, measles and rubella vaccination.

Bolton's communicable disease expert, Dr Robert Aston, invited BEN health reporter Gayle Evans, to watch his granddaughter, Emily, have the triple jab in a Horwich clinic. Dr Aston believes his public display will help Bolton parents make their own minds up about MMR

HE may be one of the world's leading experts on vaccination, but in this case, Dr Robert Aston, was just a doting grandfather.

As the debate on mumps, measles and rubella continues to rage, Bolton's head of communicable diseases sat calmly playing building blocks on the floor of the Horwich clinic with his 14-month-old granddaughter, Emily.

Emily laughed and played, unaware that minutes later she was to have her first MMR vaccination.

The cameras focused in on Emily as Bolton health visitor Liz Jayatunge, gave her the triple vaccine.

"In just three weeks, Emily will have a 90 per cent protection from mumps, measles and rubella," Dr Aston said.

His daughter, Kate, aged 31, cuddled her daughter protectively, and said: "I'm not just here because of who my father is.

"As a mother, I have looked at all the evidence and I have made this decision on my own. This is not a publicity stunt.

"But it wasn't a difficult decision to make. There is more risk in not having her immunised.

"I understand that parents may want the right to choose a single vaccine. And I welcome freedom of choice. But having heard all the facts, the triple vaccine is the best.

"The MMR is the safest way to protect my daughter from these diseases. Not every parent is in the position that I am in having my father and knowing all the facts."

Dr Aston, who travels the world talking about Britain's immunisation policies, has been thrust into the limelight following controversy over whether parents should be offered more choice. A recent poll showed that eight out of 10 parents believe the NHS should offer a choice between MMR and the three individual jabs.

More than half want Tony Blair to say if his son Leo has had the innoculation against measles, mumps and rubella.

Some 85 per cent said the health service should provide an alternative to the three-in-one jab which has been linked to the development of autism by anti-jab campaigners.

Dr Aston, who said Bolton continued to have one of the highest uptakes of the MMR jab in the country, said anti-MMR campaigners were "scaremongering".

He said the single vaccine was putting children at risk.

Dr Aston said: "It is sad that public confidence is being undermined by campaign groups and by certain sections of the media who are keeping alive the controversy.

"It has been shown that to lower the levels, children will suffer. I find it my purpose in life to prevent childhood suffering.

"I'm here today as a grandparent, not a public figure -- and I want my granddaughter to have MMR. Kate is a scientist herself and has looked at the facts and has made her own mind up." MMR, the issues: 94 per cent of Bolton parents agree to have their child injected with the triple vaccine. This take up increases to 96 per cent of parents by the time their child is aged five.

Jackie Fletcher, of the anti-MMR group Jabs, has called on senior medical advisers to carry out new research on the triple vaccine over claims that it could cause autism.

n outbreak of measles in south London last week suggested vaccination rates have dropped amid fears over MMR.

Experts fear measles are around the corner, but anti vaccine groups urge the Government to offer the single vaccines as well as MMR.

Private clinics have started to offer the single vaccine in the North-west.

Parents can ring NHS Direct with their concerns on MMR on 0845 4647.

Controversy has raged over whether Prime Minister Tony Blair should reveal if his son Leo has had the MMR inoculation.

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