MMR-Encephalitis NVICP Decision

The United States Court of Federal Claims (USCFC) has recently compensated petitioners Saeid B. Mojabi, Parivash Vahabi and their minor son, Ryan B. Mojabi for a table injury of encephalitis as a result of MMR vaccination.  Naturally the usual suspect is exploiting this for his own validation.  Dr. Bob Sears states:

Vaccines don't cause autism . . . except when they do. Here is another case of MMR-induced encephalitis that resulted in autism.

While the child clearly suffers from neurological deficits there is no diagnosis of autism, only an allegation by the parents (petitioners).

Petitioners allege that the MMR vaccination that Ryan received on December 19, 2003 (the first MMR vaccination), resulted in a Vaccine Table Injury, specifically an encephalopathy that produced “a severe and debilitating injury to his brain, described as Autism Spectrum Disorder (‘ASD’).” Id. Alternatively, petitioners argue that “as a cumulative result of [Ryan’s] receipt of each and every vaccination between March 25, 2003, and February 22, 2005, Ryan has suffered, and continues to suffer, neuroimmunologically-mediated dysfunction[] in the form of asthma and ASD, [conditions] which were ‘caused-in-fact’ by the vaccinations.” Id. at 1-2.

The child did not have any ASD behaviours from two CHAT screenings:

On May 10, 2004, at Ryan’s sixteen month well-child visit, Dr. Armstrong completed a Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (CHAT) screen. Ps’ Ex. 4 At 25. That CHAT screen indicated that Ryan was interested in other children, pretend play, peek-a-boo, points with index finger, makes eye contact, and brings object for show. Id. On January 25, 2005, Dr. Armstrong examined Ryan for his twenty-four month well-baby check. Ps’ Ex. 4 at 31. During the visit, Dr. Armstrong conducted another CHAT screen, and again Ryan postively performed each of the listed behaviors.

Although, again the child exhibited neurological deficits affecting language and behaviour:

A month later, on October 27, 2005, Ryan was examined by the intake team at the Early Start Program. Id. at 55. The notes from this assessment reflect that Ryan’s parents “are concerned that Ryan’s development of speech and language appears to be delayed.” Id. The notes go on to state that “[Ryan] does not say very many words. Father relates that Ryan seems to have about 10 words that he will sometimes use. [Ryan] no longer uses words that he has previously learned. He is shy with other children and he is not able to adapt to new situations easily. He does not like to have other people come over to visit.” Id. On November 7, 2005, Dr. Armstrong examined Ryan again and observed that Ryan had “some aggressive interactions with vocalizations and hitting outbursts.” Ps’ Ex. 4 at 57.

Fewer than one child per million doses of MMR develops encephalitis but as many as 1,000 children will develop encephalitis per million cases of natural measles.  This is what we would observe in less than a generation if people like Dr. Bob get their way and stop vaccinating.  It's easy for people like him to criticise vaccines but do nothing to offer a viable alternative.  Single measles vaccines are no different in terms of serious reactions.

The Mojabi-Vahabi family has my utmost sympathy and I am glad that the NVICP system worked for them as it should.  But this decision, in no way, represents the thousands of OAP petitioners who claim some compilation of vaccines caused autism.  Dr. Bob would do well to report the facts instead of continuing to whip parents into a frenzy with histrionics but then again, if he did, he wouldn't be able to sell books, products and "services".