A WINCHESTER mum who pledged to travel to France to get her baby a special vaccination has achieved her goal.

Liz Willis took baby Holly to Calais so she could get a single measles vaccine, no longer available in this country.

She feared 16-month-old Holly would be at risk from the triple MMR - measles, mumps and rubella - vaccine.

There is contradicting information surrounding the triple vaccine, and its possible side effects and links with several serious health conditions including autism and Crohn's Disease.

Liz, 34, from Barton Stacey, was especially concerned for Holly as there is a family history of Crohn's - her husband Geoff had the debilitating condition 12 years ago and nearly died from it.

Through the parents' pressure group Jab she located a doctor in France prepared to give the single measles vaccination.

The couple made the marathon trip to France and back in 24 hours, accompanied by a TV film crew.

BBC's consumer programme Watchdog decided to accompany them in an attempt to highlight the dilemma faced by thousands of parents with similar concerns to those of the Willis'.

Liz has just returned from her flying visit to Calais and said the trip was well worth it.

Little Holly was given the single vaccine and apart from a slight rash suffered no side-effects.

"There are doctors who will say I was silly to worry and that Holly would have been all right with the MMR, " said Liz from her home in Roberts Road.

"But I was not convinced. I think parents should have the same choice here as they do in Europe."

"There is obviously a demand in the UK for the single vaccine as the doctor we used said he was getting as many as ten British families a week coming to him for the vaccination.

"I really think department of health policy should be changed but until it is I would not hesitate to do this sort of thing again."

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