PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
February 12, 2009
Contact:
Rita Shreffler, NAA (Nixa, MO) 417-818-9030
Wendy Fournier, NAA (Portsmouth, RI) 401-835-5828


PARENTS AND ADVOCATES LABEL TODAY'S VACCINE COURT RULINGS AS INSINCERE AND
POLITICALLY DRIVEN, SAYS NATIONAL AUTISM ASSOCIATION

Government Conceded One Year Ago that Vaccines Caused Autism; Today's Ruling
Demonstrates Backpedaling, Further Undermines Vaccine Safety

Nixa, MO - Today's ruling in vaccine court has thousands of families
outraged at the federal government's broken promise of medical care
following a vaccine injury.
Last February, the government conceded that a child's vaccinations led to
her autism. Today, however, the government ruled in favor of itself in three
cases filed in the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (NVICP)
claiming vaccinations led to regressive autism. Advocates say they are
disappointed in today's rulings, but not surprised.

Last year's concession brought the vaccination program bad publicity,
casting suspicion on today's outcome among parents and advocates. Others
feel the rulings today will actually hurt the vaccination program more than
it helps. "Parents make their decisions on whether or not to vaccinate based
on trust in vaccine safety," says NAA president and parent Wendy Fournier.
"Parents are led to believe that should their child be injured by vaccines,
the government would provide medical care. But the message today is that
parents will be on their own should their child suffer a negative vaccine
reaction."

In 1986, the NVICP took effect for children born after October 1988.
Unencumbered by litigation, drug companies had practically unfettered
influence upon government vaccine program decision-makers, ensuring their
vaccines were given to every child in America. But through the years,
critics have argued that the program has become more like "Kangaroo Court"
where no discovery phase is allowed and evidence pertinent to cases is
inaccessible.

In the case of autism-related injuries in the NVICP, the government has
refused to fund science looking into the connection between autism and
vaccines, while also forbidding plaintiff access to the Vaccine Safety
Database (VSD). "It's difficult for parents to have a fair day in court when
both funding for vaccine research and VSD access has been blocked," says NAA
Executive Director Rita Shreffler.

For years, thousands of parents have come forward with the same account:
their perfectly healthy child regressed into a state of autism following
well-baby checkups where vaccinations were received. But as more and more
families come forward, they are repeatedly told it is merely a coincidence.
"These children are basically collateral damage while parents receive the
coincidence theory from pediatricians and federal health agencies," says NAA
board chair Lori McIlwain. "Thousands of parents have the same story. Will
it still be considered a coincidence when we reach the millions?"

Since the NVICP was established, vaccines given to children have grown at an
alarming rate and so have the rates of childhood cancer, juvenile diabetes,
asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, ADD, ADHD, Bi-Polar Disorder, Autism and more.
"As a nation, we have substituted acute illness with chronic disease and
have produced the sickest generation of children ever in America," says
Shreffler. "New parents are not blind to this and the government's reaction
to the autism-vaccine connection creates further anxiety. The government is
undermining the very program they're trying to promote."
For more information, please visit www.nationalautism.org .


Think Autism. Think Cure.


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