Joe Lieberman: “I believe that we must at least consider an association between thimerosal exposure and autism. I understand the rate of…”

“I believe that we must at least consider an association between thimerosal exposure and autism. I understand the rate of autism has risen perhaps 800 percent since 1990 and although there could be a number of reasons including better diagnostics, this coincided with an increased exposure to thimerosal in vaccines, which again is 50 percent mercury by weight. I have talked to Director Gerberding at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, which is our Nation's premier public health organization. She said that there is room for further study. I note that thimerosal is still in our influenza vaccine. And we want people to get that vaccine.”