February 26, 2009 Vaccine Court Denies Vaccines Cause Autism On February 12th Special Masters from the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) denied petitioners’ claims that vaccines provided to children had caused autism spectrum disorder and refused any award of compensation from the Vaccine Fund for Injury. Since 2002, more than 5,000 such cases have been submitted to the special court requesting compensation under the theory that particular vaccines caused autism spectrum disorder in individual children. Because many cases offered similar evidence for causation, the Omnibus Autism Proceeding (OAP) was established and three test cases chosen to review. Substantial evidence was submitted in each case and all three Special Masters independently found no link between the vaccines and autism. The OAP does not prevent other individual cases from being heard, but results and evidence from these three cases can be submitted in the other cases. The Department of Health and Human Services issued a statement in conjunction with the decisions offering support to families of children with autism pledging continued research into causes of ASD and treatment for the condition. http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2009pres/02/20090212a.html For transcripts of the decisions, please see: http://www.uscfc.uscourts.gov/node/5026 For more on the history of the proceedings, please see: http://www.healthinschools.org/News-Room/EJournals/Volume-8/Number-7/Legal-Battles-over-Vaccines-and-Autism.aspx

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