THE controversy over single jabs was reignited last night after health experts raised safety concerns over the importation of a mumps vaccine.

The Committee on the Safety of Medicines (CSM) said use of the vaccine Pavivac should be suspended while the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) carries out further investigations

But private health clinics offering the single measles, mumps and rubella vaccines across the North-East and North Yorkshire, as an alternative to the combined MMR jab, urged parents not to worry and accused the Department of Health of scaremongering.

Yesterday, the CSM met to discuss Pavivac after concerns were raised about its manufacture, testing and storage.

Between April and September, UK clinics applied to bring 5,720 doses of Pavivac into the UK. But it is not known if all were successfully imported; nor is it clear how many of the vaccines were given to people.

Kathryn Durnford, director of Health Choice UK, which carries out single vaccinations across the region, said: "We've never used Pavivac, but I think this is scaremongering tactics by the Department of Health.

"I have an earlier letter from the MCA to say they had no objection to Pavivac's importation after 'careful consideration'."

Direct Health 2000 (dh2) provided single mumps, measles and rubella vaccines for children in Darlington.

Sarah Dean, managing director, said: "We believe the Medicines Control Agency is guilty of both a lapse of duty and appalling scaremongering in its handling of use of the Pavivac mumps vaccine in the UK.

"We wish to reassure parents that we believe the Pavivac used so far at dh2 clinics in the UK to be safe."

Darlington mother Jane O'Byrne said: "I opted for the MMR jab, but this highlights how parents are once again in the dark over what's safe for their child."