In a major setback for the fight to link autism to vaccines, a special federal court ruled yesterday that the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine and vaccines that contained a mercury-based preservative were not connected to autism that developed in three children.
The cases of the Cedillo, Hazlehurst and Snyder families could sink the claims of several hundred other families who believe the MMR vaccine alone or in combination with vaccines containing the preservative thimerosal caused their children's autism, said Curtis Webb, a lawyer for the Hazlehurst family.
The outlook appeared particularly grim, he said, because these three cases were considered among the strongest.
"We're extremely disappointed," Webb said. "It wasn't even a close case."
The families' attorneys are considering appeals, the lawyer said.
Vaccine supporters and public health experts applauded the decision by the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, hoping that it would reassure parents that the shots recommended by federal scientists are safe.
"It's a great day for science, and I'd like to think it's also a great day for children with autism," said Dr. Paul Offit, chief of infectious diseases at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and co-inventor of the rotavirus vaccine, a standard childhood immunization that does not contain thimerosal.
Offit said he understands that many parents have been scared by the controversy but believes those who refused to vaccinate their children contributed to a 12-year high in measles cases last year and a recent outbreak of bacterial meningitis.
Both of these outbreaks could have been prevented by standard childhood vaccinations, he said.
"It's time to put the vaccine hypothesis aside and focus on the real causes of autism and not be diverted by a dead end," said Offit, who was not involved in the case.
Special court
Congress set up the special vaccine court in 1986 when pharmaceutical companies faced a liability crisis. Vaccines were being blamed for catastrophic injuries to children, and some vaccine manufacturers threatened to quit the business.
The court shields vaccine makers from paying damages, drawing money from a surcharge levied on every vaccine.
Parents who believe their children have been injured by vaccines can file petitions at this court and receive compensation from the surcharge pool.
