Eastern Iowa Doctors Debate Link Between Vaccines and Autism

By Jillian Petrus, Reporter

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By Kelli Sutterman

Story Created: Jan 6, 2011 at 7:55 PM CDT

Story Updated: Jan 6, 2011 at 11:15 PM CDT

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - In 1998, a British surgeon and researcher claimed there was a link between the measles, mumps, rubella vaccine and autism.

A new report from the British Medical Journal calls those findings an “elaborate fraud”.

In Eastern Iowa, the opinions about research linking childhood immunizations to autism are just as strong.

It may leave parent’s with more questions than answers about whether to vaccinate their own children.

Dr. Scott Nau is a pediatrician with St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids.

“I’m a huge advocate for childhood vaccinations,” said Nau. “There isn’t any evidence that there is a link to autism.” Nau says he’s been a practicing pediatrician for thirty years. He says in that time, he’s seen children die from not receiving a childhood immunization.

“I vividly remember children that were here and then gone in twelve to twenty-four hours later with overwhelming bacterial infections,” said Nau.

Doctor Gene Cretsinger says he takes a different stance.

“We don’t get vaccinated, my children never have been vaccinated and my grandchildren have never been vaccinated,” said Cretsinger. Cretsinger is a chiropractor working with several autistic patients. He says some parent’s tell him they blame vaccines for their child’s disability.

“We’re confident the route of non-vaccination can be a healthy choice if you maintain your health,” said Cretsinger.

The chiropractor says criticism surrounding studies pointing to immunizations as a possible cause for autism is nothing new.

“He’s being used as an example of what’s going to happen to you I think if you do research that is in support of anti-vaccination,” said the doctor.

The one thing Nau and Cretsinger agree on is a parent’s right to be informed.

Both physicians say parents need to do their own research, and talk with their doctor before making any decision impacting their children’s health.

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