A Kennedy Fuels Autism Debate

By Sharyl Attkisson, CBS News Correspondent
July 14, 2005

Is there a link between autism and childhood vaccines?

Medical experts say no -- resoundingly -- but some advocacy and parent groups and scientists disagree. As CBS News Correspondent Sharyl Attkisson reports, those who believe there is such a link now have the forceful and highly controversial support of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

Advocates say that it's no coincidence that one new study indicates that when a mercury preservative was removed from most vaccines, autism rates in California went down. After growing for more than a decade, new cases of autism may be slowing down in California. That's according to data compiled by the state that has been on the leading edge of identifying and tracking the nation's autism epidemic. The trend is fueling a debate over vaccines and the autism epidemic--a debate that Kennedy has now entered.

Full article available at: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/07/14/eveningnews/main709269.shtml
View Debate on Autism-Vaccine Link at:
http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/videoplayer/newVid/small_player/cbsnews_videoplayer_settings.html?clip=/media/2005/07/14/video709277.rm&sec=3420&vidId=3420&title=Debate$@$On$@$Autism-Vaccine$@$Link&hitboxMLC=eveningnews

For more information and resources on autism, go to:
http://www.autismconcepts.com/.