MMR vaccine has its day in court

The ruling shows that vaccines are many times safer than over-the-counter medications such as Aspirin and Tylenol.

Vaccines and Autism. For too long now, those two words have been put together in one sentence—despite the overwhelming evidence that speaks against a connection. And, understandably, it's made new parents a little hesitant about signing off on their baby's shots. But today, a U.S. Federal Court came to the same conclusion that doctors around the world already know: the theory that the combination MMR vaccine causes autism is ...bunk.

After reviewing petitioners' medical records and listening to numerous hours of testimony, the special masters who conducted the proceedings released a 183 page document today. It explained, in great depth, their decision to deny government funded financial compensation to families who felt their child developed autism after receiving the MMR vaccine.

One judge (known by the title special master), George Hastings, said a thorough, dispassionate review of the evidence demonstrated that the vaccine-autism theory was "very wrong."

He said parents who adhere to this theory "have been misled by physicians who are guilty ... of gross medical misjudgment."

The science proving this point has been quite clear for a number of years. But last week, the scientific evidence was given an important legal booster shot.

He said parents who adhere to this theory "have been misled by physicians who are guilty ... of gross medical misjudgment."

Special master Denise Vowell, who heard a case alleging that a mercury-based preservative called thimerosal can trigger autism, said that while the evidence is incredibly complex, the experts arguing that there is no link between autism and vaccines "were far more qualified, better supported by the weight of scientific research and authority, and simply more persuasive on nearly every point in contention." (Thimerosal was once used in childhood vaccines,+ but is no longer.)

The vaccine-autism scare dates back a decade. British gastroenterologist Andrew Wakefield and colleagues in 1998 published a now-infamous article in The Lancet medical journal that suggested a jab of MMR could trigger bowel conditions in children that led to autism. The study of 12 children caused a furor, but the findings have never been reproduced or substantiated. A number of Dr. Wakefield's co-authors have retracted parts of the paper and others are facing professional misconduct charges

The damage has been incredible. In Britain, about 25 per cent of children do not get the MMR vaccine and, as a result, there has been a resurgence of childhood illnesses such as measles. How did That's because a whole industry of hucksters has sprung up to promote alternatives to vaccines, and the vocal (and Web-savvy) minority of conspiracy theorists will see these thorough, thoughtful rulings as, well, just another part of the conspiracy by Big Pharma to poison kids for profit.

Special master Patricia Campbell-Smith, who heard the third test case, said that while one cannot help but be "moved as a person and as a parent" by the tragic stories of children with autism, there is simply no credible scientific evidence demonstrating a vaccine-autism link.

The judges considered 5,000 pages of testimony from experts and 939 scientific articles and independently came to the same conclusion.

"Considering all of the evidence, I found that the petitioners have failed to demonstrate that thimerosal-containing vaccines can contribute to causing immune dysfunction, or that the MMR vaccine can contribute to causing either autism or gastrointestinal dysfunction. I further conclude that while Michelle Cedillo has tragically suffered from autism and other severe conditions, the petitioners have also failed to demonstrate that her vaccinations played any role at all in causing those problems."

So, while the drama will likely continue as appeals and civil courts hear these cases, and bloggers continue to blog, I think it's time to separate these two words in our minds and maybe put a few new ones together.

Vaccines: Safe and Effective...which translates into better immunization rates and protection for all our kids Autism: Support and Hope....which translates into insurance coverage for treatment, access to services, and research dollars for promising causes and treatments

By closing this chapter and starting a new one, all kids will benefit.

adapted from the web site Baby 411 Blog and CDC Vaccine Works Newsletter and posted on kidsgrowth 02-20-09