MRC Centre of Epidemiology for Child Health

Dr Helen Bedford was interviewed on the BBC news channel about the current measles outbreaks.

Senior Lecturer at the Centre, Dr Pat Tookey, was interviewed on the BBC News Channel, and participated in a 3-way live radio discussion on Voice of Russia.

Dr Anna Pearce Starts MRC Population Health Scientist Fellowship

In January 2013 Anna Pearce commences an MRC Population Health Scientist fellowship. Her research will take a longitudinal and cross-national approach to gain a better understanding of why children from disadvantaged backgrounds experience poorer health than those from more advantaged backgrounds. Anna will spend the next three years researching this topic, including 12 months at the University of Adelaide. Findings will be used to inform UK and international policy for the reduction of child health inequalities.

Senior Lecturer at the Centre, Dr Helen Bedford, is quoted by BBC News.

The latest figures for uptake of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine show that 91% of two year old children in England have received the vaccine. This is the first time since 1998 that MMR vaccine rates have been higher than 90%. In 1998 a publication in the Lancet, which was widely interpreted as suggesting MMR vaccine was linked with autism and bowel disease, led to widespread media coverage and speculation about the safety of this vaccine. Many parents who were justifiably concerned, decided not to accept the vaccine for their children. Rates fell to a low of 78% overall but in many districts, particularly in inner London, rates were as low as 50%. We are continuing to see the results of this, with large outbreaks of measles once again in England.

Centre Director, Catherine Law, gave the opening plenary lecture at the International Society of Social Paediatrics and Child Health’s conference in St Andrews on 6th September 2012. The theme for the conference was “evidence into practice and evidence into policy”.

Professor Carol Dezateux was awarded WellChild Researcher of the Year 2012 at an awards ceremony on September 3, 2012. According to WellChild, “Professor Carol Dezateux has shown great passion and motivation for Children’s Health research and demonstrated unwavering support of young researchers embarking on this career path. She has given invaluable support over a number of years for the WellChild research programme, including chairing various panels and helping to improve what we do. She has recently stepped down as chair of both the research and advisory panel and is about to embark on a new and exciting national birth study next year.” Carol chaired the WellChild Child Health Advisory Committee from 2006 and the WellChild Grant Review Panel from 2007  both until end of 2011.

http://www.insight.mrc.ac.uk/

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7760806.stm