Disabled Children Sue Over Triple Diphtheria Vaccine

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The manufacturer of the controversial MMR vaccine is

being sued over claims that another of its triple

inoculations has caused cerebral palsy and autism in

hundreds of British children.

A group of 120 disabled children have joined a class

action, which claims that their illnesses were

caused by

the three-in-one diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus

(DPT)

vaccine made by Glaxo Wellcome and the Wellcome

Foundation.

Glaxo Wellcome is now part of GlaxoKline, the

company which is facing a separate claim by several

thousand children whose autism was allegedly

triggered

by the company's measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)

vaccine.

The Government has previously admitted that the DPT

vaccine can cause problems in some children and paid

limited compensation to victims under the 1979

Vaccine

Damages Payments Act.

Debbie of , a

Manchester-based

solicitors firm that is leading the class action,

said: " We

are anxious to prove that a link does exist and we

believe

that there is enough evidence to mount a case

against the

manufacturers. "

One of the children allegedly harmed by the DPT

vaccine

is Karl Radunovic, 8, from Wakefield, West

Yorkshire, who

is suing through his mother, .

Karl was injected with the DPT vaccine when only a

few

weeks old and immediately reacted badly. Doctors

still

believed that he was well, but Mrs Radunovic was

convinced that there had been a fundamental change

in

his behaviour.

" The doctors thought I had a lazy child, but I knew

that

this was not how a baby acts, " she said. " I knew

that he

was ill. He was like a rag doll, his head lolling to

one

side. "

At the age of 18 months, Karl was diagnosed with

cerebral palsy. He now needs to be monitored 24

hours a

day.

" We want the courts to get to the bottom of all

this, and

prove that the medical companies should bear some

responsibility, " she said.

The DPT vaccine is usually given to babies, normally

at

two, three and four months of age. It consists of

dead

bacteria and inactive toxins which stimulate a

baby's

immune system to fight the diseases.

The element of the vaccine known as pertussis, or

more

commonly whooping cough, has previously been linked

with a rise in childhood ailments including asthma

and

cerebral palsy.

At present, the legal action has been granted legal

aid,

subject to final approval being given by the Legal

Services Commission. A Glaxo Kline spokesman

declined to comment on any impending litigation.