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Autism Rally
Aired January 08, 2003 - 13:23 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: In Washington today, a provision of the Homeland Security Act is under fire. This protest isn't about terrorism or security. Rather, it has to do with invisible and very mysterious enemy, the disease autism.
CNN's Kathleen Koch joins us live with the details -- Kathleen.
KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, the debate is over a provision included in the homeland security bill. It limits liability for the makers of vaccine additives, but that provision infuriated the families of children with conditions like autism or mental retardation. Many of them came to Washington today, and these conditions apparently appeared after the children received vaccines and so the families believe they were caused, at least in part, by the shots.
One of the greater defenders of the measure, though, he has not claimed authorship, is Senator majority leader Bill Frist. Families today begged him to help change the measure to find out what's sickening their children.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Something is poisoning our kids. Let's be honest, Senator Dr. Frist, and admit that you don't know what it is, that it could be vaccines thimerosal, ground water contamination, smoke stack mercury from old industrial plants. Help us find out what it is.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOCH: Several lawmakers, both Democratic and Republican, were so upset about the measure that they got promises from the Republican leadership after the homeland security bill passed to have this lawsuit limit measure stripped out in the new year, and they remain livid that it was ever inserted at all.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. DENNIS KUCINICH (D), OHIO: Because this is a major scandal! The drug companies gave over millions of dollars in campaign contributions in the last election cycle. Eli Lily, one of the top contributors, gave $1.6 million. This government should not be for sale! The rights of our children should not be for sale!
(END VIDEO CLIP) KOCH: At this point, there is no definite scientific link between these vaccines and autism, though some studies have found there are limited cases of hypersensitivity to certain vaccines. Vaccine makers like Eli Lily and company say with the growing threat of bioterrorism, drug companies have to be able to develop new vaccines without the specter of billions of dollars of litigation hanging over their heads. That's why they say this provision in the homeland security bill is so important, though they insist that they had nothing to do with its insertion -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Kathleen Koch, thank you.
KOCH: You bet.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired January 8, 2003 - 13:23 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: In Washington today, a provision of the Homeland Security Act is under fire. This protest isn't about terrorism or security. Rather, it has to do with invisible and very mysterious enemy, the disease autism.
CNN's Kathleen Koch joins us live with the details -- Kathleen.
KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, the debate is over a provision included in the homeland security bill. It limits liability for the makers of vaccine additives, but that provision infuriated the families of children with conditions like autism or mental retardation. Many of them came to Washington today, and these conditions apparently appeared after the children received vaccines and so the families believe they were caused, at least in part, by the shots.
One of the greater defenders of the measure, though, he has not claimed authorship, is Senator majority leader Bill Frist. Families today begged him to help change the measure to find out what's sickening their children.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Something is poisoning our kids. Let's be honest, Senator Dr. Frist, and admit that you don't know what it is, that it could be vaccines thimerosal, ground water contamination, smoke stack mercury from old industrial plants. Help us find out what it is.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOCH: Several lawmakers, both Democratic and Republican, were so upset about the measure that they got promises from the Republican leadership after the homeland security bill passed to have this lawsuit limit measure stripped out in the new year, and they remain livid that it was ever inserted at all.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. DENNIS KUCINICH (D), OHIO: Because this is a major scandal! The drug companies gave over millions of dollars in campaign contributions in the last election cycle. Eli Lily, one of the top contributors, gave $1.6 million. This government should not be for sale! The rights of our children should not be for sale!
(END VIDEO CLIP) KOCH: At this point, there is no definite scientific link between these vaccines and autism, though some studies have found there are limited cases of hypersensitivity to certain vaccines. Vaccine makers like Eli Lily and company say with the growing threat of bioterrorism, drug companies have to be able to develop new vaccines without the specter of billions of dollars of litigation hanging over their heads. That's why they say this provision in the homeland security bill is so important, though they insist that they had nothing to do with its insertion -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Kathleen Koch, thank you.
KOCH: You bet.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
