Public Health, Childhood Vaccines and Autism

Last month, a special three-judge federal panel declared that vaccines against childhood diseases did not cause autism in some children. One judge said he had “deep sympathy and admiration” for the families involved, but that he, “must decide this case not on sentiment, but by analyzing the evidence.” Nevertheless, the number of parents who believe there is a connection is on the increase. Yesterday, the Los Angeles Times reported that in California, “hundreds of elementary schools are at risk for outbreaks of childhood diseases eradicated in the US years ago.”