CHILDREN in Glasgow are being protected against deadly infections in greater numbers than ever before, according to new figures from the NHS.

The proportion of babies and toddlers vaccinated fell to dangerously low levels during a health scare suggesting the combined mumps, measles and rubella (MMR) vaccine was linked to autism.

But numbers bounced back to reach record levels by last year.

In the space of 12 months, the number of babies left unprotected fell by a third so that, by December, 93% of two-year-olds had had their MMR jab.

At the same time 97% had been inoculated against the potentially fatal brain infection meningitis C.

Dr Syed Ahmed, Glasgow's public health consultant, said: "Protecting children from the ravages of these very serious conditions has to be a top priority.

"By achieving such high levels of immunisation we can maintain the standards of protection necessary to prevent major outbreaks."

The MMR figures still fall below the 95% target set by the Scottish Executive, but they do not include any children whose parents took them to private doctors for individual jabs during the MMR scare.

The statistics, from the NHS Information Services Division, show that more traditional vaccines had an even higher uptake, with 98% of pre-school kids having the jab for diphtheria, tetanus, polio and whooping cough.

The Inverclyde and Renfrewshire areas taken over by the Glasgow board last year had the best rates anywhere in the country with 99% of year-old babies vaccinated and 100% protected by age five.

The exception was the 95% of children who had an MMR jab but this was also the highest figure in the country. Glasgow's vaccination rates now match the Scottish averages.