Campaigners say efforts to overturn US court rulings dismissing a link between vaccinations and autism could have major implications for UK families.
UK group Justice, Awareness and Basic Support (JABS) made the claim following moves to revisit key US test cases dismissed in 2009 to 2010.
Dr Andrew Zimmerman, whose signed statement has reopened the debate about the connection between autism and vaccines
Fresh questions have been raised over vaccines after US paediatric neurologist Dr Andrew Zimmerman made a sworn statement saying inoculations may cause autism in some children.
Dismissed links to MMR vaccine
Zimmerman had previously been a witness for US Department of Justice lawyers. In 2007 he signed an affidavit that dismissed links to the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
But he says he later told the lawyers involved in the test cases that in his view vaccinations may cause autism in children with a mitochondrial disorder.
US lawyer Robert F Kennedy has petitioned Michael Horowitz, the Inspector General of the Department of Justice, over the test cases.
Autism father Rolf Hazlehurst has also petitioned Michael Horowitz over this issue. Hazlehurst claims the MMR caused his son’s autism.
Doubts over decisions
JABS, which supports families of vaccine-damaged children, says Dr Zimmerman’s new statement would raise doubts about the original US decisions.
It would also undermine the withdrawal of legal aid for UK families involved in a class action in the early 2000s, says JABS. The families claimed that the MMR vaccine caused their children’s autism.
Jackie Fletcher is JABS’ spokeswoman. She said any moves to re-open the US test cases should trigger a fresh look at the UK class action.
Otherwise, Fletcher said children will have been “denied justice”.
Public Health England said there is no “credible evidence” suggesting the MMR vaccine causes autism.
Related:
- Lawyer calls for new probe into vaccines
- Doctor says vaccines may cause autism
- Whistleblower fuels MMR vaccine questions
- MMR ‘jab tax’ would hit families
- Judge clears MMR autism doctor
Published: 18 February 2019