September 14, 2010 CDC: Vaccines Not Linked to Autism in
Children New evidence shows that thimerosal, a mercury-based
preservative in many vaccines, doesn’t increase children’s
autism development risk, according to a study from the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and reported by Reuters
Health. For the study, the CDC examined data about U.S. children
participating in managed care and born between 1994 and 1999.
Researchers gathered 256 children with autism spectrum disorder
and 752 same-age, same-sex children who didn’t have the
condition. When scientists compared the kids, they discovered
that children exposed to thimerosal showed no increased risk of
developing any type of autism spectrum disorder, no matter when
exposure to the preservative occurred. In fact, children exposed
to the preservative between birth and 20 months old had slightly
lower odds of developing autism. “This study should reassure
parents about following the recommended immunization schedule,”
said Frank Destefano, MD, d