Parents of a one-year-old tell the practice nurse they do not want their child to have the MMR vaccine because they have read it can cause autism. How should this be handled?

I'd approach this as a conversation rather than a correction¹, because parents who feel dismissed are more likely to walk away.

I'd start by asking what they've read and what worries them most. It's understandable to be anxious — they're trying to protect their child. Once I understood their concerns, I'd explain honestly that the idea of a link between MMR and autism came from a study published in the 1990s that was later shown to be fraudulent and was retracted², and the doctor involved was struck off. Since then, very large studies in millions of children have found no link.

I'd also explain the other side of the balance: measles can cause serious complications like pneumonia and brain inflammation, and outbreaks have been increasing where vaccine uptake has dropped. Vaccinating their child also helps protect babies too young to be vaccinated³ and children who can't have vaccines for medical reasons.

But vaccination isn't compulsory in the UK⁴, and the decision is theirs. So I'd give them written information from a reliable source, offer time to think, and invite them back. If they still declined, I'd respect that and make sure they know they can change their mind at any time.

I don't think pressuring them would work or be right — it's about giving them the best chance to make an informed decision for their child.