NO LINK BETWEEN AUTISM AND VACCINES

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A special court ruled that evidence presented in three cases by parents of children with autism did not prove a link between autism and certain early childhood vaccines.
A special court denied Mike and Theresa Cedillo's claim that vaccines caused autism in their daughter, Michelle. 1 of 2 The ruling came from a panel of "special masters" who began hearing three test cases in 2007 involving children with autism -- a disorder that their parents contend was triggered by the vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella combined with vaccines containing thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative.
Three families -- the Cedillos, the Hazlehursts and the Snyders -- sought compensation from the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, but the panel ruled that they had not presented sufficient evidence to prove that the childhood vaccines caused autism in their children.
"I feel deep sympathy and admiration for the Cedillo family," Special Master George L. Hastings Jr. wrote in his ruling in the case involving 14-year-old Michelle Cedillo, who cannot speak, wears a diaper and requires round-the-clock monitoring in case she has a seizure.
"And I have no doubt that the families of countless other autistic children, families that cope every day with the tremendous challenges of caring for autistic children, are similarly deserving of sympathy and admiration.
However, I must decide this case not on sentiment, but by analyzing the evidence," Hastings wrote. "In this case the evidence advanced by the petitioners has fallen far short of demonstrating such a link."
In a statement shortly after the release of the decisions, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said it continues to support research "to better understand the cause of autistic disorders and develop more effective methods of treatment." However, "the medical and scientific communities ... have found no association between vaccines and autism.
"Hopefully, the determination by the Special Masters will help reassure parents that vaccines do not cause autism," the statement said.
Autism Speaks, a large autism advocacy organization, called for continued examination of the disorder's contributing factors. "The causes of autism remain poorly understood. ... We will continue to support authoritative research that addresses unanswered questions about whether certain subgroups of individuals with particular underlying medical or genetic conditions may be more vulnerable to adverse effects of vaccines," the Autism Speaks statement said.
The Autism Society of America, one of the oldest and largest autism grassroots organization in the country, also called for more research into autism's causes. "ASA believes that the science of autism causes and treatments need to be more vigorously researched. ... Individuals living with autism need help today, and this case illustrates the need for the medical community to probe further into environmental causes of autism. Like all families affected by autism, these families deserve to be heard and supported in their journey raising their children."

Source: CNN