Could there be a link between childhood vaccines and autism?

by Dustin Grove (grove@wsbt.com)

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Vaccinations and autism

A recent government ruling found vaccinations contributed to the worsening of a Georgia girl's medical disorder and may have contributed to the development of autism-like symptoms. (WSBT file photo)

By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Mar 10, 2008 at 4:15 PM EST

Story Updated: Mar 16, 2008 at 7:39 PM EST

A growing number of parents are re-thinking the way they have their children vaccinated. They're worried because of claims those vaccines may be at least partly to blame for some children developing autism.

But health officials insist that's not the case.

Seven-year-old Matthew Aine is among thousands of American children with autism. His mom is among thousands of parents who blame the very thing that's supposed to keep them healthy.

“I think it's because of vaccines,” she said.

Too much, too soon. And just last week, the federal government ruled that vaccinations made a Georgia girl's health disorder worse and may have contributed to the development of her autistic-like symptoms.

"My daughter, who had been completely normal until getting nine vaccines in one day, was suddenly no longer there,” plaintiff Terry Poling said.

And it has parents everywhere asking questions.

"Most have good questions. They want to clarify the issues,” said Dr. Jesse Hsieh of Granger Family Medicine.

But Dr. Hsieh says he tells them all the same thing.

"We have five doctors in my family. Every one of us has our kids immunized,” he said. “No vaccine is 100 percent safe. Nothing in medicine is 100 percent safe. But you weigh your risks.”

Health officials point to 16 studies that found no connection whatsoever between vaccines and autism.

As for the Georgia case, the head of the Centers for Disease Control called it a legal settlement, not a scientific finding.

Health officials maintain children's vaccines are critical not just to protect the children themselves, but the community at large.

In a memo to doctors across the state last week, the Indiana Department of Health called immunizations “one of the public health’s greatest triumphs.” It cited a report from the World Health Organization showing 500,000 deaths worldwide from measles in 2002, but only 41 cases and no deaths in the United States thanks to immunizations.

The head of Indiana's Department of Health just sent a list of talking points to doctors across the state to help them talk about this with their patients and to stress the importance of getting their children vaccinated.

But there are thousands of families out there who say this simply cannot be a coincidence.

A CBS News investigation recently found at least ten cases since 1990 where the government paid families whose children developed autism symptoms just after being vaccinated.

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