Most recently, a federal court ruled that a link between vaccines and autism is no longer the case, meaning that any families having children with autism are not entitled to any type of monetary compensation. Many families with children with autism felt that a vaccine preservative had the potential to cause autism due to a mercury-containing compound. This vaccine compound had been used since the 1930s, and its presence within the vaccine prevents bacterial infections, like staph. However, in the present day, the anti-vaccination movement began specifically because many felt that the mercury found within vaccines could potentially cause autism. This was further enhanced by Jenny McCarthy becoming the face of this campaign since her son suffers from autism.
However, the latest news for any families with children with autism is that there is no scientific link between this mercury compound and autism. Furthermore, in one Danish study, the rates of autism actually rose after this compound was removed from all vaccines. This contradiction showed an inverse relationship to what was thought by many people in autism being caused by this vaccine compound.
Most medical experts do not support the theory in the mercury compound in vaccines causing autism, especially since there is no scientific evidence. However, this mercury compound was removed from vaccines for infants in 1999 for safety purposes. The most recent case in court rulings was in March where a vaccine court ruled against three specific cases of families suing due to the development of autism within their children. These families felt that the mercury compound caused autism, but a judge ruled against these findings.
The bottom line is that there is no solid cause yet revealed for autism, and parents who are avoiding vaccines for this reason no longer need to do so. It seems that the recent court rulings may put an end to the anti-vaccine movement related to autism.
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