Friday, a special federal court in Washington DC decided that the vaccine additive thimerosal is not responsible for autism saying that a connection between the mercury-containing preservative and autism was not shown.
The suit was brought by three concerned families with autistic children. The parents strongly believed that there was a connection in the vaccine their children received and autism.
"Such families must cope every day with tremendous challenges in caring for their autistic children, and all are deserving of sympathy and admiration," special master George Hastings Jr., wrote.
Congress started a victim compensation program for families whose injuries or deaths can be proven to be linked to a vaccine. Hastings said that in these cases this was not proved. The verdict can be appealed in a regular federal court.
In 2009, a similar court ruling was upheld stating that autism was not caused from a combination of vaccines with thimerosal.
The controversy over vaccines has left many parents untrusting of the system and vaccines. The Associated Press reported that Dr. Paul Offit of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia said the autism theory had "already had its day in science court and failed to hold up."
But he said, "it's very hard to unscare people after you have scared them."
In the meantime and mainly because of the parents’ reaction to thimerosal…it has been removed from almost all vaccines in the US.
In the US, over 5,500 claims have been filed through the government's Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. The rulings from the special court help them to determine which cases have a claim.
Each state has its own guidelines for vaccines. The state of Utah has not purchased any vaccines with thimerosal in it since 1999, according to the Utah.gov website. But at one time, thimerosal was in a variety of vaccines including flu shots, allergy shots, etc.
Source: Associated Press and CNN
Slideshow: Cowboys Cheerleaders
Other articles from this examiner:
Robert Gibbs wears Canadian Hockey jersey during White House briefing
Video: Serial killer Rodney Alcala kept 125 photos of victims; police ask for help identifying
Daylight Savings Time begins Sunday, March 14, 2010
Salt Lake City bride dies on the way to her wedding in Las Vegas
LA Coroner’s Office: Corey Haim autopsy states he died of pulmonary congestion
Merlin Olsen, Hall of Famer and Little House on the Prairie actor dies at 69
Video: Rep. Patrick Kennedy is upset with the media over Massa scandal
Amy Beck, 33-year-old teacher turned herself in for having sex with 14-year-old student
The strongest 3 aftershocks to hit Chile after massive earthquake strike Thursday
H1N1 spreads slower than regular flu and affects children faster than adults
Comments