'Vaccine Court' Denies Families' Autism Claim

MMR vaccine and thimerosal don't combine to cause autism, panel finds

By Nick McMaster, Newser Staff

Posted Feb 12, 2009 11:41 AM CST

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'Vaccine Court' Denies Families' Autism Claim — In this image released by The Sundance Institute, Rowan, a child with autism, is shown in a still from the documentary, "Over the Hills and Far Away," that explores one family’s unforgettable journey as they travel halfway across the world in search of a miracle to heal their autistic son. (AP Photo/Sundance Institute, HBO)

A special court has ruled that a common vaccine did not cause autism in three children, CNN reports. Three test-case families who claimed the vaccine for measles, mumps, and rubella in combination with the preservative thimerosal caused their children’s autism were denied compensation by the panel, which ruled that "the evidence does not support the general proposition."

Studies by the CDC and WHO have found no link between autism and vaccines. More than 4,800 families are pursuing claims for compensation for their child’s autism. Their claims fall into three categories: Some say that MMR vaccines and thimerosal combine to cause autism; the other two groups cite MMR vaccines or thimerosal as the sole cause. Today’s ruling applied only to the first group, an attorney representing the group of families said.
(More autism stories.)

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