Dawkins and the MMR

Time and again in "The Enemies of Reason", Richard Dawkins derided the possible link between MMR and autism as an example of "irrationality" on behalf of the general public, leading to deady measles outbreaks in the UK.  He never thought to mention the "irrationality" of a government that deliberately and determinedly blocked the alternative of separate vaccinations, which most parents who rejected MMR would have been happy to accept, and indeed which was endorsed by Andrew Wakefield himself. In France it is possible, so why not in the UK? Perhaps it has something to do with the paternalistic nanny knows best attitude of the UK government which was so determined that the MMR was safe that they were not prepared to countance any alternatives, even if these would have been sufficient. Was that an act of reason? And why did Dawkins omit to mention that very public fact? Could it be that it would suggest that his ringing endorsement of medical science is also often propped up by irrational thinking?