Girl's Autism Linked to Vaccine

Photo: Juan Jose Gutierrez Barrow / Istock

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Study after study has shown no credible link between the mercury preservative used in some vaccines and autism spectrum disorders, despite mercury's known neurotoxic properties.

Now, a federal vaccine court has ruled in favor of a Georgia girl whose rare condition was made worse by a vaccine, resulting in an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

"The language in the (court ruling) does not establish a clear-cut vaccine-autism link," the Journal-Constitution writes. "But it does say the government concluded that vaccines aggravated a rare underlying metabolic condition that resulted in a brain disorder 'with features of autism spectrum disorder.'"

Some parents have long argued that the startling rise in autism diagnoses (1 in 150 children is now diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder) is linked to the mercury preservative thimerosal that was once commonly used in childhood vaccines. Studies have discounted that link.

The Division of Vaccine Injury Compensation case does not prove a scientific link, and its conclusions are further clouded by the fact that it the settlement is sealed.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been a controversial advocate of the vaccine-autism link. This video shows an MSNBC interview with RFK Jr.

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