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Disabled children sue over
triple diphtheria vaccine
By Rajeev Syal
(Filed: 01/09/2002)
The manufacturer of the
controversial MMR vaccine is being sued over claims that another of
its triple inoculations has caused cerebral palsy and autism in hundreds
of British children.
A group of 120 disabled children have joined a class
action, which claims that their illnesses were caused by the
three-in-one diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus (DPT) vaccine made by
Glaxo Wellcome and the Wellcome Foundation.
Glaxo Wellcome is now part of GlaxoSmithKline, the
company which is facing a separate claim by several thousand children
whose autism was allegedly triggered by the company's measles, mumps and
rubella (MMR) vaccine.
The Government has previously admitted that the DPT
vaccine can cause problems in some children and paid limited
compensation to victims under the 1979 Vaccine Damages Payments Act.
Debbie Murphy of Alexander Harris, a Manchester-based
solicitors firm that is leading the class action, said: "We are anxious
to prove that a link does exist and we believe that there is enough
evidence to mount a case against the manufacturers."
One of the children allegedly harmed by the DPT vaccine
is Karl Radunovic, 8, from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, who is suing
through his mother, Elizabeth.
Karl was injected with the DPT vaccine when only a few
weeks old and immediately reacted badly. Doctors still believed that he
was well, but Mrs Radunovic was convinced that there had been a
fundamental change in his behaviour.
"The doctors thought I had a lazy child, but I knew
that this was not how a baby acts," she said. "I knew that he was ill.
He was like a rag doll, his head lolling to one side."
At the age of 18 months, Karl was diagnosed with
cerebral palsy. He now needs to be monitored 24 hours a day.
"We want the courts to get to the bottom of all this,
and prove that the medical companies should bear some responsibility,"
she said.
The DPT vaccine is usually given to babies, normally at
two, three and four months of age. It consists of dead bacteria and
inactive toxins which stimulate a baby's immune system to fight the
diseases.
The element of the vaccine known as pertussis, or more
commonly whooping cough, has previously been linked with a rise in
childhood ailments including asthma and cerebral palsy.
At present, the legal action has been granted legal
aid, subject to final approval being given by the Legal Services
Commission. A Glaxo SmithKline spokesman declined to comment on any
impending litigation.
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