In a major setback for the fight to link autism to vaccines, a special federal court ruled Thursday that the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine and vaccines that contained a mercury-based preservative were not connected to the autism that developed in three children.
The decisions in the cases of the Cedillo, Hazlehurst and Snyder families could potentially sink the claims of several hundred other families in an omnibus proceeding that 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 for them because these three cases were considered among the strongest, Webb said.
"We're extremely disappointed," Webb said. "It wasn't even a close case."
The families' attorneys are considering appealing, the lawyer said, but first need to study the decisions carefully.
Vaccine supporters and public health experts applauded the decision by the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, hoping 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 understood that many parents had been scared by the controversy, but believed that 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.
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 damage claims, drawing money from a pool funded by a surcharge levied on every vaccine. Parents who believe their children have been harmed by vaccines can file petitions at this court and receive compensation from the pool.
