FAMILY doctors are to target parents to get their children immunised with the MMR vaccine.

Bosses at Bolton Primary Care Trust want to ensure every child has the controversial jab before starting school.

GPs will shortly be sent lists with the names of all youngsters who have not had the triple injection, which protects against measles, mumps and rubella.

They will then contact their parents by phone or by post to highlight the importance of the jab.

The new drive to immunise all children in Bolton comes on the back of two confirmed cases of measles in Manchester in the last three weeks.

Graham Munslow, public health specialist for the Trust, said: "While Bolton has a very good uptake for the vaccine, there are no grounds for complacency.

"To ensure full protection, people must remember that two doses of the MMR vaccine are required.

"If anyone is in any doubt, they should contact their GP."

The MMR vaccination is administered in two doses: the first when a child is aged around 12 months and a second before they start school at the age of four.

Controversy has surrounded the jab since research in 1998 claimed it was linked to autism and the stomach disorder, Crohn's disease.

But a review, published in 2005 and compiled by international charity the Cochrane Collaboration, examined 31 case studies and concluded that the jab was safe.

In Bolton, 95.3 per cent of youngsters have been given the MMR vaccine, compared with a regional average of 91.7 per cent.

In the past three years there have been no cases of the infection in Bolton.

Despite general support for the drive, concern was raised last night by Jabs, the organisation which calls for more research into immunisation.

Bolton spokesman Jonathan Harris said money should be spent on bringing back the choice of single immunisation on the NHS.

He added: "Some parents may feel they are being cajoled into having something they really don't want their children to have."