MMR jab banned from export amid global shortages
MINISTERS have banned the export of MMR vaccinations due to a global shortage.
The Government added the measles, mumps and rubella jab to a list of drugs wholesalers are forbidden from selling abroad.
Yesterday’s unprecedented move aims to protect supplies for British patients who get immunised outside of the NHS vaccination programme.
It will have no impact on routine childhood jabs, and Public Health England’s supply of MMR vaccines is not affected by the scarcity.
However, there are not enough vaccines in the global supply chain to meet an ‘unprecedented’ increase in demand caused by a spike in measles cases and new immunisation programs in developing countries.
The Department of Health imposed a ban on drug wholesalers shipping stocks of MMR abroad where it can be sold for greater profit.
The move is intended to protect supplies for patients who get the jab privately in the UK, including overseas workers.
The vaccine has joined all hormone replacement therapy (HRT), EpiPens and some blood-thinning pills on a list of medications which firms have been forbidden from exporting.
Any company which breaches the export ban faces punishment by the medicines watchdog. Health minister
Nicola Blackwood said: ‘These restrictions will ensure those who don’t qualify for the national NHS programme or with private healthcare can also receive protection from the MMR vaccine.
‘We have an outstanding national vaccination programme and the vast majority of people are eligible for free immunisation on the NHS. There are no issues with the national NHS programme.’ People who get the MMR vaccination privately include foreigners who are not entitled to free NHS care and overseas workers on placement in the UK.
It also includes some children whose parents choose to get them vaccinated in private clinics or pay for them to have single vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella.
Last month the Daily Mail launched a campaign to improve the uptake of childhood immunisations amid rising cases of measles and mumps.
Latest NHS figures show the proportion of children receiving the MMR jab has fallen for five years in a row.
More than one million doses of the MMR vaccine are provided by the NHS each year and children get two doses of the jab at ages one and three. Older children and adults who missed out are also eligible for a free jab.
About 1 per cent of MMR vaccines in the UK are given to patients outside the NHS immunisation programme. But supplies have been hit by global shortages caused by an unprecedented increase in demand.
While the NHS gets vaccines directly from manufacturers who are contracted to provide a set amount each year, private pharmacies have no such guarantee of supply.
This means wholesalers can sell abroad for greater profit, leading to scarcity in the UK private market.
Two manufacturers – British drugs company GlaxoSmithKline and American pharmaceutical giant MSD – who supply MMR privately in the UK have been hit by the problem.
Last month pharmacists warned of a lack of every major medicine type – including painkillers, contraceptives and diabetes pills.
In addition to a dearth of hormone replacement therapy drugs, chemists are also struggling to get common painkillers and blood pressure pills.