Appeals court rejects autism vaccine link

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Appeals court rejects autism vaccine link

By RANDOLPH E. SCHMID (AP) – 1 day ago

WASHINGTON — A federal appeals court on Friday upheld a ruling that vaccines are

not to blame for autism.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld a decision last year by

a special vaccine court, which concluded there's little if any evidence to

support claims of a vaccine-autism link.

Scientist years ago reached that conclusion, but more than 5,500 families sought

compensation through the government's Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.

Friday's ruling came in the case of Cedillo of Yuma, Ariz., who is

disabled with autism, inflammatory bowel disease and other disorders that her

parents blame on a measles vaccine given at 15 months.

In the 2009 ruling Special Master Vowell wrote that the evidence " is

weak, contradictory and unpersuasive. Sadly, the petitioners in this litigation

have been the victims of bad science conducted to support litigation rather than

to advance medical and scientific understanding " of autism.

In its ruling Friday the appeals panel said " we have carefully reviewed the

decision of the special master and we find that it is rationally supported by

the evidence, well-articulated, and reasonable. We, therefore, affirm the denial

of the Cedillos' petition for compensation. "

Earlier this year the so-called vaccine court also concluded that the additive

thimerosal is not to blame for autism, an added setback in a long-running battle

by parents convinced there is a connection.

The decisions help to offer reassurance to parents scared about vaccinating

their babies because of a small but vocal anti-vaccine movement. Some

vaccine-preventable diseases, including measles, are on the rise.