HEALTH chiefs in Swindon are to stockpile mumps vaccine as an epidemic takes hold. Cases of the contagious virus have soared, as reported in yesterday's late edition of the Advertiser.

Since January there have been 96 cases in Swindon alone.

Across the whole of Wiltshire there were just 99 reported cases last year.

Meanwhile, doctors say supplies of the MMR jab are running dangerously low.

Last night Swindon Primary Care Trust, which is in charge of local health services was in the process of ordering more from suppliers Sarrilion.

Dr Peter Swinyard, of Phoenix Surgery, said supplies of the vaccine at his Toothill practice have almost run dry.

"If we had a sudden rush of people requesting MMR jabs we would run out very quickly," he said.

The PCT is expected to begin stockpiling on Monday.

PCT spokeswoman Adina Grace said the trust had not been slow to react. She said: "Storage is a problem. We cannot stockpile unless there is a known demand.

"We are looking to start taking weekly deliveries of 1,000 vaccinations on Monday."

The MMR jab, which also gives protection against measles and rubella, has been linked to health defects, including autism, and many parents have elected not to give their children the jab. But research carried out by scientists in Japan has dismissed fears.

Mrs Grace said parents should think very carefully before denying their children the vaccination.

"Now is the time for people to consider," she said. "Research has proved this vaccine is safe."

The mumps outbreak is not just confined to our region.

In a report, researchers from Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, said the country was in the grip of a nationwide mumps epidemic.

Lawrence Knight, the regional spokesman for the Health Protection Agency, said: "Wiltshire, like the rest of the UK, is experiencing a mumps epidemic.

"Young people aged 16 to 23 should check their vaccination records to establish if they have had the MMR jab."

Authors of the report say the highest attack rate was seen in those born between 1983 and 1986, who were too old to be offered the MMR jab routinely when it was introduced in 1988.

Thousands of students at New College had to be vaccinated last month after an outbreak.

Kevin Shoesmith