Immunization Newsbriefs (c) Copyright Information Inc., Bethesda, MD. Brought to you by the National Network for Immunization Information (NNii). Visit NNii's new website at http://www.immunizationinfo.org.

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November 25, 2002

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"A Loss for Parents of Autistic Kids"

New York Newsday (www.newsday.com) (11/24/02) P. A2; Frank, Thomas

To avoid a tidal wave of claims by parents of autistic children, Republicans have added a provision to the homeland-security bill that blocks such claims and allows vaccine manufacturers to focus on the threat of biochemical terrorist attacks rather than worry about lawsuits.  The provision extends the provision to vaccines to vaccine additives as well.  Eli Lilly, whose chairman Sidney Taurel is on the White House Advisory Council on Homeland Security, makes thimerosal, which until recently was an additive in several childhood vaccines and is the focus of most lawsuits from parents of autistic children.  Many parents claim that thimerosal is to blame for their children's autism, although no definitive conclusions have been reached about thimerosal and autism.  Plaintiffs will get up to $250,000 and medical costs from the federal compensation fund, but drug companies will not have to admit guilt.  Democrats and others who oppose the provision call the move a simple payback for an industry that gave Republicans $14 million since January 2001; Democrats received $5.2 million from the industry during the same time.

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