'Trace Amounts': The Debate Over Vaccination

There are two sides to every story, but in this case each side believes there is no debate as evidenced from comments on my Facebook page. Allen Chen writes "There is no demonstrable link between vaccines and autism. The science is clear." Bruce Shannahoff countered "The CDC is guilty of cooking the books on their 2004 study of MMR and autism." Two opinions from very different perspectives about MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella shots), flu vaccines and other innoculations.

It is with that backdrop that I went to Hollywood's TCL Chinese Theater for a screening of the documentary "Trace Amounts." It's billed as an investigative documentary that explores the connection between mercury in vaccines and autism. We watched as people went into the theater. How many were "resisters" who believe in resisting vaccinations of any kind. Quite a few.

Tim Schwartz said he was a resister because "the things they put in the shots are really bad."

Resister Amy Hanson said she is a resister because I have a son who has autism that was caused by his MMR."

Even 18-year-old Bre Alvarado told me "I really don't agree with all the ingredients that are in shots."

The ingredient that concerns Robert Kennedy, Jr, author of "Thimerosal - Let The Science Speak For Itself" is thimerosal.

He says it has mercury, is toxic and he doesn't understand why people just want to believe the government when it says there is no link between vaccines and autoposy. Kennedy told me, "we know that it's causing an epidemic of ADD, ADHD, speech delay, language delay. The CDC says that one our of every six American children is affected by some kind of neurological disorder. We've never had that in American history. The sickest generation of American kids ever."

Eric Gladen directed the movie "Trace Amounts". I asked him why are people resistent to immunizations. He said, "I think we are in situation now that parents are concerned. There has been a lot of misinformation out there where they're connecting vaccines and autism." He hopes his movie will help people learn more about the debate.