2008 Woodie Awards
Some push autism-vaccine connection
Zhi Xiong - The Daily Iowan
Issue date: 6/28/07 Section: Metro
A federal court is examining the case of Michelle Cedillo, a 12-year-old from Arizona whose parents are seeking government compensation for an alleged link between childhood vaccinations and autism. The outcome of the Cedillo case could affect 4,800 similar lawsuits from around the nation.
The court will determine whether thimerosal - a mercury-containing preservative found in some vaccines - delivered as shots against mumps, measles, and rubella causes autism spectrum disorders.
Dana Halvorson, who lives in northern Iowa, is among the tide of parents filing suits on behalf of their children.
Halvorson's 8-year-old daughter was diagnosed with autism in 2002, then with mercury poisoning. A year later, Halvorson filed suit in the United States Court of Federal Claims.
Symptoms of the neurobehavioral illness typically emerge in toddlerhood - around the time many children have already received standard vaccinations.
"When you have a child that has both diagnosis [for autism and mercury poisoning], it cannot be the other way around, where autism led to mercury poisoning," Halvorson said. "That is the crux of denial here."
Halvorson's daughter, who was diagnosed at age 3, has progressed in language and social interaction through the years. But the expense of various types of therapy became a financial burden.
"The average family doesn't have the resources it needs without taking on extra jobs, if it is not covered by insurance," Halvorson said.
The federal cases would eventually determine whether families could be entitled to their share of millions of dollars in compensation.
Following a 1999 FDA study, the United States Public Health Service urged pharmaceutical companies to "reduce or eliminate thimerosal in vaccines."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that thimerosal-free hepatitis B vaccines have been FDA approved since early this year, and preservative-free influenza vaccines reduced thimerosal to trace amounts as early as 2001.
The court will determine whether thimerosal - a mercury-containing preservative found in some vaccines - delivered as shots against mumps, measles, and rubella causes autism spectrum disorders.
Dana Halvorson, who lives in northern Iowa, is among the tide of parents filing suits on behalf of their children.
Halvorson's 8-year-old daughter was diagnosed with autism in 2002, then with mercury poisoning. A year later, Halvorson filed suit in the United States Court of Federal Claims.
Symptoms of the neurobehavioral illness typically emerge in toddlerhood - around the time many children have already received standard vaccinations.
"When you have a child that has both diagnosis [for autism and mercury poisoning], it cannot be the other way around, where autism led to mercury poisoning," Halvorson said. "That is the crux of denial here."
Halvorson's daughter, who was diagnosed at age 3, has progressed in language and social interaction through the years. But the expense of various types of therapy became a financial burden.
"The average family doesn't have the resources it needs without taking on extra jobs, if it is not covered by insurance," Halvorson said.
The federal cases would eventually determine whether families could be entitled to their share of millions of dollars in compensation.
Following a 1999 FDA study, the United States Public Health Service urged pharmaceutical companies to "reduce or eliminate thimerosal in vaccines."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that thimerosal-free hepatitis B vaccines have been FDA approved since early this year, and preservative-free influenza vaccines reduced thimerosal to trace amounts as early as 2001.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
david ayoub, MD
david ayoub
posted 6/28/07 @ 10:48 PM EST
Although the CDC, along with the American Academy of Pediatrics and US Public Health Service recommended removal of mecury from vaccines in June 1999, those vaccines (HiB, DTaP, HepB) were still available through late 2002. (Continued…)
Post a Comment