HEALTH bosses in the region have hailed a major new report which backs the controversial MMR vaccine as a vital breakthrough in the battle against disease.

The study of nearly three million children in Finland is said to demolish the idea of a link between the three-in-one vaccination against measles, mumps and rubella and illnesses such as autism and bowel disorders.

Growing fears that the triple vaccine could be dangerous has seen a falling-off of the relatively high immunisation rates in some parts of the North-East.

Now communicable disease consultants in the region say the report could make all the difference in their campaign to win the hearts and minds of parents.

Dr Ian Holtby, consultant in communicable disease control at Tees Health Authority, recently warned about the consequences for children after MMR vaccination rates tumbled from 90 per cent to 83 in just one year.

Yesterday, he described the Finnish report as "a very important step forward" in the battle to win over the sceptics.

"There is a hard core who we will never convince but the ones we are after are the waverers and hopefully this report will help us," he said.

However, anti-vaccination campaigners said the report had done nothing to allay their fears.

The report showed the vaccine did produce a small number of serious side effects - 5.3 per 100,000 - but the Department of Health said the findings meant parents' worries should be eased.

While Teesside has not seen a single measles case in the last year, Dr Holtby warned that it "only takes one" to trigger an outbreak among unprotected children.

His big fear is an outbreak of rubella which could have "catastrophic" consequences for the unborn children of mothers who come into contact with carriers..

While County Durham has relatively high rates of MMR immunisation - 92 per cent at the last count - Dr David Walker, Dr Holtby's opposite number at County Durham and Darlington Health Authority, is also delighted that the new report has come down so clearly on the side of vaccination.

"In places where MMR vaccination has broken down, there have been outbreaks of measles leading to complications and death," he said. "We are very keen that the North-East population should be protected."

Dr Walker said he understood why many parents remained worried about possible side-effects. He urged them to discuss the MMR vaccine with health professionals.

"There have been more than 500 million doses given worldwide, if there was a problem we would know about it," he said. "We are confident that MMR is a safe, effective vaccine."

But one Teesdale mother-of-two, who has refused to have her three year old son immunised with MMR, said she remained unconvinced.

"There are so many conflicting reports I still don't know what I am going to do. Whatever you do, you take a risk giving an injection to your child.

"I think I am going to talk to my GP about having a single measles vaccine, " she said.

Marilyn Smith, a member of the anit-vaccination group Jabs, pointed to the 2,000 British families who have taken legal action, claiming their children have been damaged by the jab. "I don't think any report which is shoved down our throats will change the concerns people have," she said.

l For official information about the MMR vaccine visit www.immunisation.org.u