Five thousand families have lodged a case against the US government claiming their children developed autism after routine childhood immunization as toddlers. They aim to prove that there is in fact an autism vaccine immunization link, with the evidence that their children were functioning and developing perfectly well until they received the injections.
The Cedillo family were the first to go to federal court in June 2007 as one of nine test cases and as yet they are still awaiting a ruling. Parents Theresa and Michael Cedillo of Yuma, Arizona, allege their daughter Michelle developed a multitude of health problems after her vaccinations at 15 months old. According to her mother, “Michelle no longer responded to us, she didn’t respond to her toys. She didn’t want to be held.” Michelle, now 13, was diagnosed with autism and has also developed inflammatory bowel disease, arthritis, glaucoma and epilepsy requiring full time care and feeding through tubes.
If the lawyers can establish a connection between Michelle Cedillo’s conditions and the vaccinations this case would set a precedent, allowing thousands of autistic children to receive compensation from the Vaccine Injury Compensation Fund. This resource was set by up Congress to ensure adequate supply of vaccines by protecting manufacturers from lawsuits.
The Use of Thimerosal in Vaccines
The Cedillos allege that it was the presence of thimerosal which weakened their daughter’s immune system. They claim the preservative caused mercury poisoning and prevented her body from clearing the measles virus in the vaccine.
Whilst the US government maintain that there is no scientific evidence to prove an association between autism and vaccines, including those containing thimerosal, they did in July 1999 ask vaccine manufacturers to eliminate and reduce with urgency mercury from vaccines to avoid any possibility that children be exposed to levels in excess of federal guidelines.
Despite the denials from the US government and the lack of scientific research, many parents across the globe are still confused and worried about the safety of vaccines. The Cedillo case is a commonly read story, with parents alleging their normally developing toddlers suddenly change after their routine vaccines anddevelop symptoms that are typical of autism.
5000 families are waiting for a ruling on what they claim cannot be coincidence – that their child suddenly changed after immunization vaccines. Furthermore, millions of confused parents wait for a clear answer as to whether immunization is now safe. The fact is that vaccines certainly have a place in preventing the spread and outbreak of life-threatening diseases, yet what parents want the answer to is whether their child could potentially be at more risk from the vaccine itself than the disease it aims to protect them from.
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