SPECIAL drop-in clinics are being launched to make it easier for parents to ensure children get their MMR jab.

South West Essex Primary Care Trust, covering Basildon and Thurrock, is spending £35,000 on the clinics in an effort to increase the uptake of measles, mumps and rubella vaccine.

The announcement came as the Government’s chief medical officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, wrote to trusts asking them to help cut the risk of a measles epidemic.

Ruth Osborn, trust spokesman, said: “We are arranging a programme of drop-in clinics, starting in September.

“We’re investing in these to make it easier for parents to access doctors and nurses to get the vaccine. We really would encourage parents to give their children the first vaccine and the pre-school booster to make sure it’s effective.

“Measles, in particular, can have very serious, even fatal, effects and it’s very important we make sure children are vaccinated to avoid an outbreak.”

Scare stories the vaccine could cause autism have resulted in fewer children having the jab – despite the fact a study published by the Health Protection Agency has dismissed evidence of a link.

Professor David Salisbury, director of immunisation at the Department of Health, urged parents to get their children vaccinated.

He said: “The evidence on MMR is absolutely clear. There is no link between the vaccine and autism.

“The MMR vaccine coverage is not high enough to remove the threat of recurrence of measles outbreaks.

“Measles is serious and in some cases it can be fatal. Delaying immunisation puts children at risk.”

The immunisation rate for children reaching their second birthday in the Southend, Rochford and Castle Point area is 77 per cent – well below the 95 per cent recommended by the World Health Organisation.

More alarmingly, in Basildon and Thurrock, just 73 per cent of children have completed the course of two injections.

Emma Merrell, 33, of Chesham Road, Laindon, decided not to give her two youngsters the jab, because of concerns about autism.

She said: “It is important, but it’s up to the individual parent to make the choice. We shouldn’t be bullied into it and made to feel like a criminal for not giving our children the jab.”

Leah Jackson, 25, of Gladwyns, Basildon, disagrees. She gave birth to daughter Charlotte last Christmas Day and also a son, Joshua, who is two.

She said: “Charlotte will have it and her brother has already had it.

“With so many parents not vaccinating at the moment an epidemic could start up and I want my children to be protected.

“To me, the advantages outweigh the possible risk, which isn’t proven. Any risks of having it aren’t fatal, whereas the risks of not having it are.”