A COMPANY which says it has beaten the shortage of single mumps vaccines is holding a clinic in the region next month.

Healthchoice 2000 is expecting about 200 children from the North-East to be given single measles, mumps or rubella vaccines.

The demand for single vaccines remains high despite repeated reassurances from the Government about the safety of the free MMR triple vaccine.

Some of the parents who will attend the clinic in Newcastle on February 22 have already paid £80 to have the mumps vaccine with other private health organisations.

But because some private companies are experiencing difficulties in importing sufficient quantities of the vaccine to meet demand, many parents are having to wait.

Now, some parents have shown they are willing to pay twice to ensure their children are protected against mumps by booking them into the clinic in Jesmond.

A shortage of single mumps vaccines means some parents are facing at least a six month wait.

Kathryn Durnford, managing director of Healthchoice 2000, said: "We have got people from other private clinics who cannot get the single mumps vaccine."

Mrs Durnford said her Cambridge company, which was established five months ago, has continued to obtain all three vaccines.

Direct Health 2000, the first private health organisation to run single vaccine clinics in the North-East, says the Government is restricting imports of single mumps vaccines, although the Department of Health says it is not.

* For more information on single jabs, call Healthchoice UK on 0870 442 3993.