United Kingdom - Thrombocytopenia is a well-recognized rare adverse reaction with measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine which is listed in the product information.

A recently published study conducted by the Public Health Laboratory Service has found the absolute risk of a child developing idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) within 6 weeks of the first dose of MMR to be 1 in 22,300 cases with 2 out of every 3 cases being attributable to MMR (1).

The Committee for Safety of Medicines has recommended:

• Children who developed ITP within 6 weeks of the first dose of MMR (or its component vaccines should have their serological status evaluated before the second dose is due. If serology testing suggests that a child is not fully immune against measles, mumps and rubella then a second dose of MMR is recommended.

• The Public Health Laboratory Service are offering a free serological testing service for children developing ITP within 6 weeks of the first dose of MMR.

Reference: Current Problems in Pharmacovigilance, Volume 27, August 2001.