A PRIVATE health firm is threatening to sue health bosses over alleged "scare-mongering" over the separate measles, mumps and rubella vaccines.

Direct Health 2000 claims that advice given to a worried mother implied that children immunised at the private Darlington clinic had experienced a high number of side-effects, and that the clinic used sub-standard vaccines. Kathryn Durnford, spokeswoman for Direct Health 2000, said its vaccines were used by the World Health Organisation and it was not aware of any adverse reactions.

A spokesman for the Communicable Disease Unit, at the former County Durham and Darlington Health Authority, said there must have been "a misunderstanding" but stood by the written advice given to GP practices.

The memo sent out to County Durham and Darlington GP practices by disease control specialists stresses that the triple vaccine is safe and effective and highlights recent measles cases in the North-East.

It states: "the separate measles and mumps vaccines on offer are not licensed in the United Kingdom, therefore any problems will be the responsibility of the doctor or nurse giving it to a child, rather than to the manufacturer.

"Some of the unlicensed separate measles and mumps vaccines available have problems with unacceptable side-effect profiles or poor efficacy."

It adds that the Darlington clinic cannot be recommended because of lack of information about "the quality of service being offered".

Ms Durnford said the memo was wrong about side-effects and the vaccines.