Court: Vaccines didn’t cause kids’ autism
Three families with autistic kids had sought to be compensated by the government’s Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. But a special court panel ruled on Thursday that there was insufficient evidence of a link between autism and early childhood vaccines, CNN reported.
The plaintiffs included the Cedillo family, whose 14-year-old daughter cannot speak and wears a diaper. Judge George L. Hastings Jr. said in his ruling that he had deep sympathy for the three families, but “must decide this case not on sentiment, but by analyzing the evidence.”
Scientists say that it’s unclear what causes autism, a range of disorders that inhibits a child’s ability to interact and communicate and affects 1 in 150 American kids. A big study last year found no link between autism and vaccines. The British researcher who in 1998 suggested that a link existed has been under investigation for various charges of professional misconduct.
More than 5,300 parents of autistic children have filed cases, seeking damage awards from the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. Celebrities including Jenny McCarthy, who has an autistic son, have staged anti-vaccine rallies. Many parents have refused to get their children vaccinated against measle, mumps and rubellas, which has triggered outbreaks of the diseases and major public health concerns.
