Grimsby parents may be forced to agree to the immunisation of their children with the controversial MMR jab.

The decision may be imposed on them because of an increasing shortage of the single-dose rubella vaccine.

The pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline - the UK's only supplier - is halting production of the vaccine which protects against German measles.

Increasing concern over the combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, which has been blamed for a rise in autism and inflammatory bowel disease in children, has led to more parents opting for single vaccines.

Cleethorpes mum Ann Ogle is currently suing French firm Aventis Pasteur, which manufactures the MMR jab, because she believes her eight-year-old son, Andrew Mears, developed Asperger's Syndrome - a development disability that affects social and communication skills - as a direct result of the jab.

Mrs Ogle, of Middlethorpe Road, said: "The Government is determined to stick by MMR, even though parents have said they want a public inquiry.

"If I were to fall ill after eating an infected product from a supermarket, that product would be withdrawn immediately.

"I don't understand why they can't recall all the batches of MMR while there is an investigation and supply the single doses in the meantime.

"Parents are frightened enough to keep their appointments for all the inoculations."

Justice Awareness and Basic Support (JABS), a support group for vaccine-damaged children, is backing Mrs Ogle in her legal wrangle.

Group member Jackie Fletcher believes families could now be pressurised to use MMR as single rubella jab stocks run out.

"This can only be a cynical attempt to undermine parental choice and force families down the single jab route," she said.

GlaxoSmithKline said the decision to stop producing the single vaccine at its factory in Belgium was taken at a global level in April.

The company will honour its contract with the Department of Health until it runs out in January, 2004.

"Ninety countries worldwide are now using the MMR vaccine and the scientific community believe this is the right way to vaccinate," said a GSK spokesman.

"No country is recommending the use of single vaccines over MMR. There is a small amount of single vaccines in stock and theses are being made available to the NHS for non-immune women of child-bearing age. However, supplies will eventually dry up."

lucy.wood@grimsbytelegraph.co.uk