Includes bibliographical references and index.

In the 1990s reported autism cases among American children began spiking. This trend coincided with the addition of several new shots to the nation's already crowded vaccination schedule, grouped together and given in the early months of infancy. Most of these shots contained the preservative thimerosal, which includes a quantity of the toxin mercury. This book explores the heated controversy over what many have called an "epidemic" of afflicted children. The author traces the struggle of several families to understand how and why their once-healthy kids rapidly descended into silence or disturbed behavior, often accompanied by severe physical illness. Alarmed by the levels of mercury in the vaccine schedule, these families sought answers to no avail. In the end, as research is beginning to demonstrate, the questions raised have significant implications for all children, and for those entrusted to oversee our national health.

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