by Dr Mercola

www.mercola.com

In Yuma, Arizona, the first court case alleging a link between childhood vaccines and autism is being heard in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.

Eight other such cases are soon to follow, and the decisions made will guide the handling of the other pending claims.

The cases are therefore being closely watched by 5,000 families with autistic children who have lodged claims for compensation.

Most of the families claim that a preservative called thimerosal, which contains mercury, is the culprit responsible for autism. If the courts agree, the families will be eligible for compensation from a federal vaccine injury fund. No autism claim has yet been paid from the fund.

In the Arizona case, Theresa Cedillo says that her daughter Michelle suffered five days of fever after receiving a measles, mumps and rubella vaccination when she was 15 months old. Afterwards, according to Michelle's mother, her personality and health changed for the worse.

In addition to autism, Michelle suffers from inflammatory bowel disease, glaucoma and epilepsy. Her bones are also prone to breaks because of malnutrition, since she must eat most food through a feeding tube.

 

Forbes Magazine June 11, 2007
 

 
Dr. Mercola's Comment:

The link between autism and vaccines, and particularly the mercury-rich preservative thimerosal, is a highly controversial topic that often brings strong responses from both sides, but it's hard to argue with facts.

Take, for instance, a study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Vaccine Data Link that concluded that children who receive thimerosal-containing vaccinations are 27 times more likely to develop autism than children who do not.

Or, consider that Amish children -- who typically don't receive vaccinations and rarely have autism.

Let's face it, mercury is a potent neurotoxin. Injecting it into a child with a rapidly developing nervous system can have terrible consequences. It is true that in many childhood vaccines, the mercury has now been removed -- but only to be replaced with equally damaging toxins such as aluminum and formaldehyde.

Here is a partial list of some of the other fillers that vaccines can contain:

• aluminum hydroxide

• animal tissues: pig blood, horse blood, rabbit brain, dog kidney, monkey kidney, chick embryo, human diploid cells (originating from human aborted fetal tissue)

• monosodium glutamate (MSG)

• phenoxyethanol (antifreeze)

• sorbitol

• sucrose

If you are a parent on the fence about vaccines, please take the time to carefully evalute this issue before making a decision that could alter the life and health of your child forever. Doing so could mean the difference between life and death.

Related Articles from Dr Mecola:

Autism and Mercury

Autism Epidemic Soars in America

MMR Links to 170 Cases of Autism