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Parents sue over MMR link to autism
Last updated at 00:37am on 12.06.07
Safe: Medical experts in both the US and UK insists the MMR vaccine does not cause autism
Thousands of parents who blame the MMR vaccine for their children's autism went to court in the U.S. yesterday to demand multi-million dollar compensation.
They claim their children developed autism as a result of the triple jab, which protects against measles, mumps and German measles.
In particular, they blame thimerosal, a mercury preservative once commonly used in childhood vaccines in the U.S., for damaging their children's brains.
The families point to the fact that once- healthy children developed autism after being given the jab. But vaccine experts stress the link has never been proved.
They say the timing is coincidental, because the children were vaccinated at an age when autism is often first diagnosed.
The case, in Washington, could eventually involve more than 4,800 families.
If they win they could be eligible for a pay-out from the Vaccine Injury Compensation Fund, built up from a special tax on vaccines.
British families say a victory in the U.S. could make it easier to bring a court claim here.
Thimerosal was never part of the MMR jabs used in Britain, however, and attempts by 1,400 families here to sue vaccine manufacturers have foundered due to the lack of legal aid.
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Mercury compound Merthiolate, branded "Thimerosal" or "Thiomersal" was in our kids DTP vaccines up to 2004. What is more, the lead case US in Washington this week claims the mercury compound poisoned her immune systems such that when the live viruses in MMR were injected they caused the reactions leading to her extremely serious condition for which she and her parents are now seeking compensation.
- Clifford Miller, Beckenham Kent
