HEALTH bosses today insisted there are enough MMR vaccines to go round in Suffolk after people found themselves being turned away from doctor's surgeries.

HEALTH bosses today insisted there are enough MMR vaccines to go round in Suffolk after people found themselves being turned away from doctor's surgeries.

As reported in last week's Evening Star cases of mumps in people aged 16-25 are soaring, particularly in university environments, and doctors are urging anyone who feels they may be at risk to go and see their GP.

However, several readers have contacted the Star after visiting their doctors only to be told there was no vaccine available.

Gillian Brown, communicable disease control nurse at Suffolk's health protection unit, said there had been a problem in April when people began to realise the extent of the increasing number of mumps cases.

She said: "People got worried and I think, nationally, a lot of the universities started giving massive amounts of vaccine out to people.

"This meant stocks were running very low, so the Department of Health issued guidelines that stated young children and babies must be vaccinated first.

"There is no longer a shortage of the vaccine and GPs should have enough to vaccinate everyone who requires it.

"The information may not have filtered through to all individual practices but they should be able to order supplies of the vaccine to cover everyone who requires the vaccine."

Figures released last week showed that cases of mumps in Suffolk had shot up to more than 20 times the level they were at three years ago.

In 2002 there were just 12 cases diagnosed in the county, in the first four months of this year alone there have been 105.

Young children and those aged 16-25 are thought to be most at risk.

If you are concerned contact your local GP.

n. Are you still having problems getting vaccinated? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or email eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk