Lawsuit over vaccines and autism centers on Portland boys

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Story Published: May 12, 2008 at 2:11 PM PDT

By Associated Press

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WASHINGTON (AP) - The Institute of Medicine said in 2004 there was no credible evidence to show that vaccines containing the preservative thimerosal led to autism in children.

But thousands of families have a different take based on personal experience.

Some of them are going to court today as attorneys will attempt to show that the mercury-based preservative triggers symptoms of autism.

Two ten-year-old boys from Portland, Oregon, will serve as test cases to determine whether many of the children and their families should be compensated.

Attorneys for the boys will attempt to show the boys were happy, healthy and developing normally -- but after being exposed to vaccines with thimerosal, they began to regress.

Thimerosal has been removed in recent years from standard childhood vaccines, except flu vaccines that are not packaged in single-doses.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)