Scientists have said there is no link between childhood vaccines and autism, but the theory will soon be tested in court.
In the past six years, more than 4,800 claims have been filed against the federal government alleging that a child contracted autism as a result of a vaccine, according to a recent AP article.
The first test case from among those claims is being heard now in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.
The plaintiffs in the test case and others filed argue that their child’s autism was caused by the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine in combination with other vaccines containing the preservative thimerosal. That preservative, which contains a form of mercury, is no longer in routine childhood vaccines. However, it is still used in influenza vaccines.
