Comments on: MMR http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/01/281 Every day the Prime Minister's Spokesman meets a small coterie of political journalists known as 'the lobby' for a topical chat, or 'briefing'. Tue, 06 Jan 2009 10:28:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: bob http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/01/281#comment-5051 bob Mon, 11 Dec 2006 09:58:03 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/01/281#comment-5051 this is boring this is boring

]]> By: bob http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/01/281#comment-5050 bob Mon, 11 Dec 2006 09:57:12 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/01/281#comment-5050 this is boring this is boring

]]> By: kathy Langton http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/01/281#comment-4432 kathy Langton Wed, 28 Jun 2006 12:53:03 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/01/281#comment-4432 As a mother of a boy approaching his MMR vaccination why cant he just say "Yes" he had it. Surely the fact he is staying silent is proof enough that he hasnt given leo the Jab. Why cause controversey when its only the one word answer we need. Beleive its a case of typical politians, no wonder nobody trusts them As a mother of a boy approaching his MMR vaccination why cant he just say "Yes" he had it. Surely the fact he is staying silent is proof enough that he hasnt given leo the Jab. Why cause controversey when its only the one word answer we need.

Beleive its a case of typical politians, no wonder nobody trusts them

]]> By: AK http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/01/281#comment-272 AK Fri, 05 Mar 2004 11:23:58 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/01/281#comment-272 Does anyone know if it is true that it was mainly boys that were linked with autism and the MMR (before it was disputed, obviously lol!) Does anyone know if it is true that it was mainly boys that were linked with autism and the MMR (before it was disputed, obviously lol!)

]]> By: Simon Richardson http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/01/281#comment-237 Simon Richardson Thu, 04 Mar 2004 07:49:40 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/01/281#comment-237 I'd not be reassured even if I knew that Leo Blair was subjected to MMR. A criminal psychologist friend of mine is convinced simply from watching them perform on TV that the vast majority of senior politicians are psychopaths. If he is right, then politicians might think nothing of exposing their children to risk in order to further their political careers - because they don't feel the same things that normal parents do. How does he spot it? He looks at how politicians respond to unexpected "feeling" questions in live interviews. Psychopaths have to fake most emotional reactions, apparently, and criminal psychologists can spot this in interviews. <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1524500.stm">http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1524500.stm</a> I’d not be reassured even if I knew that Leo Blair was subjected to MMR.

A criminal psychologist friend of mine is convinced simply from watching them perform on TV that the vast majority of senior politicians are psychopaths.

If he is right, then politicians might think nothing of exposing their children to risk in order to further their political careers - because they don’t feel the same things that normal parents do.

How does he spot it? He looks at how politicians respond to unexpected "feeling" questions in live interviews. Psychopaths have to fake most emotional reactions, apparently, and criminal psychologists can spot this in interviews.

<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1524500.stm">http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1524500.stm</a>

]]> By: James Jarvis http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/01/281#comment-203 James Jarvis Wed, 03 Mar 2004 02:25:22 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/01/281#comment-203 I disagree with Tony Blair on many things despite being an instinctive (though not a guaranteed Labour voter). However I feel his child should be kept out of politics. As a trained biomedical scientist with children I am convinced (on current evidence) that taking the MMR jab is the safer option. My wife is a trained veterinary surgeon - we are both agreed on the MMR vaccine. This is based on our evaluation of currently available evidence. All our children have received the MMR vaccine. All our children are fine. I advised my sister to have her daughter vaccinated based one best available evidence - she too is fine. The nature of autism is that it will present at an age coincidental with MMR. Coincidence does not mean causation. Some will swear that MMR caused their child's autism - perhaps that is their comfort. You must make your own choice on this matter - as the Blairs have. Our choice as parents was to go with the MMR - based on evidence from numerous studies we felt that was the best we could do for our children. More than that cannot be asked... I disagree with Tony Blair on many things despite being an instinctive (though not a guaranteed Labour voter). However I feel his child should be kept out of politics.

As a trained biomedical scientist with children I am convinced (on current evidence) that taking the MMR jab is the safer option. My wife is a trained veterinary surgeon - we are both agreed on the MMR vaccine. This is based on our evaluation of currently available evidence. All our children have received the MMR vaccine. All our children are fine. I advised my sister to have her daughter vaccinated based one best available evidence - she too is fine.

The nature of autism is that it will present at an age coincidental with MMR. Coincidence does not mean causation. Some will swear that MMR caused their child’s autism - perhaps that is their comfort.

You must make your own choice on this matter - as the Blairs have. Our choice as parents was to go with the MMR - based on evidence from numerous studies we felt that was the best we could do for our children. More than that cannot be asked…

]]> By: Andy Bellenie http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/01/281#comment-157 Andy Bellenie Tue, 02 Mar 2004 13:28:04 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/01/281#comment-157 Although I generally disprove of most of the governments decisions, I respect the position on Leo Blair's MMR. The medical records of a baby are not the business of the general public or press, and I'm glad TB is sticking to his guns. The government makes these decisions, not one parent, whether he is the PM or not, so it TB as the leader of the government who should comment on the issue, not TB the dad. If he wants to keep his family's medical history out of the papers, we should respect that. Although I generally disprove of most of the governments decisions, I respect the position on Leo Blair’s MMR. The medical records of a baby are not the business of the general public or press, and I’m glad TB is sticking to his guns. The government makes these decisions, not one parent, whether he is the PM or not, so it TB as the leader of the government who should comment on the issue, not TB the dad. If he wants to keep his family’s medical history out of the papers, we should respect that.

]]> By: PaulS http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/01/281#comment-151 PaulS Tue, 02 Mar 2004 13:05:59 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/01/281#comment-151 We gave our son the MMR, because whilst we think there MAY be an increased risk of bringing out autism in those already pre-disposed, it is a vanishingly small risk in comparison with the risk of a fatal traffic accident whilst on the way to the doctors surgery the extra two times that would be required if using single vaccines. (ducks for flame-war cover ;-) We gave our son the MMR, because whilst we think there MAY be an increased risk of bringing out autism in those already pre-disposed, it is a vanishingly small risk in comparison with the risk of a fatal traffic accident whilst on the way to the doctors surgery the extra two times that would be required if using single vaccines.

(ducks for flame-war cover ;-)

]]> By: Chris Lightfoot http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/01/281#comment-149 Chris Lightfoot Tue, 02 Mar 2004 12:45:08 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/01/281#comment-149 Well, the Gummer thing was still worse-- he *fed a hamburger to his daughter* in front of the TV cameras. Well, the Gummer thing was still worse– he *fed a hamburger to his daughter* in front of the TV cameras.

]]> By: Tholkappiyan Vembian http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/01/281#comment-147 Tholkappiyan Vembian Tue, 02 Mar 2004 12:31:29 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/01/281#comment-147 If Govt ministers are prepared to eat British beef in front of TV cameras to assure public about British beef's safety (during mad cow disease crisis) why PM can not disclose whether his baby was given MMR jab. Every one should walk their talk ministers including. This is another hypocrisy of politicians who put their children in private schools while sermonising to others. If Govt ministers are prepared to eat British beef in front of TV cameras to assure public about British beef’s safety (during mad cow disease crisis) why PM can not disclose whether his baby was given MMR jab. Every one should walk their talk ministers including. This is another hypocrisy of politicians who put their children in private schools while sermonising to others.

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