Posted by: Robin | Jan 17, 2011 11:18:18 AM

 
I can't even watch this George. My autistic child went catatonic with in 72 hours after recieving 8 vaccination in one day. He didn't speak again for years! He was normal before. 4 years later he was diagnosed with Autism, before it was media worthy. He had this disability since he was 2. He was normal before recieving that last set of vaccinations.
George, I was looking for you to be objective and you are not, so I quit watching your interview.
PARENTS know what's going on but they are being ignored because if the CDC or Gov. admits ANY liablity, they will go bankrupt. Plain and simple. I am not against vaccinations, but they should be spaced out and given with more care.
Tell my 11 year old who will never be a grown up that his parents are wrong!
These vaccinations stole my child.

 
Posted by: Susan Harrison | Jan 17, 2011 11:19:01 AM

 
I watch Good Morning America almost every morning and the evening news as well. I was shocked when I watched the episode of your interviewing Dr. Wakefield. I don't know why you bothered to have him on the air. You were merciless and did not give him the opportunity to fully tell his story. We already heard all the negatives about this study so he should have had an impartial interview. I will continue to watch ABC but my opinion of you will be different. Maybe you should contact Dr. Russell Blaylock to get another opinion.

 
Posted by: Carol H Graves | Jan 17, 2011 11:19:30 AM

 
There's nothing more annoying than a journalist who will not let his guest talk, George. Dr. Wakefield was not invited on the show so that you could tell him what you think based upon what you read. There's much more to this story than meets the eye, and it would have been nice to hear what the man had to say. What a disappointing "interview."

 
Posted by: Katie | Jan 17, 2011 11:21:27 AM

 
Dr. Wakefeild, don't give into media and government pressure, the PARENTS came to you and you stuck up for THEM. It's just too bad for the media and the government, they are scared because secretly they know they have screwed up and now can't admit it because of liability issues.
Stand strong and continue to back up ordinary ppl with no voice!

 
Posted by: Susan Harrison | Jan 17, 2011 11:21:55 AM

 
One of the worst jobs of reporting I have ever seen, filled with bias.

 
Posted by: Ron Brown | Jan 17, 2011 11:23:38 AM

 
George: Of course it was combative. On YOUR side of the coin! You need to go look at this again! You interrupted so much that it was rude. It also sounded very personal. It wasn't what I would call good reporting. Go look at the tape again. Why were you so combative?

 
Posted by: Annie | Jan 17, 2011 11:25:18 AM

 
I too have lost great respect for you George. I don't know if you can ever earn that back.

 
Posted by: Susan Harrison | Jan 17, 2011 11:25:38 AM

 
Respect is important in an interview. It was obvious that George had his mind made up about what he considers scientific evidence. Well, I have been in the health field and I say that the attempt to prove that vaccines are safe always is not true. The look on George's face was that of anger at not being able to force Wakefield to back down. Wakefield has his truth and believes that his research is valid. Big Pharma has control of all the networks. I applaud ABC for having Wakefield on but be respectful to people and don't try to make them say what you want them to say. If you think that research data has not been manipulated by Big Pharma, then you are naive.

 
Posted by: Sloan | Jan 17, 2011 11:25:56 AM

 
Barbara, as he should have if he took the time to do the research. Wakefield offered no evidence; he stuck to his mantra.

George, good interview and not disappointing journalism unless you love Wakefield.

 
Posted by: KWombles | Jan 17, 2011 11:28:57 AM

 
This case illustrates the limitations of patient advocacy that relies on leadership that is scientifically illiterate. It also is an indictment of the peer-review system. Wakefield's study was largely panned by the medical community upon publication because it was not scientifically sound. This was before they knew about the unconscionable conflict of interest issues and falsification of data. One wonders why Lancet is not getting more flack for publishing the thing to begin with. A case series involving only 13 subjects? To assume any 'conclusion,' much less such a dramatic one, could be reached with that small a sample size is outrageous. It didn't have to be fraud to be a very, very bad paper that should never have seen the light of day.

The sample size really bothers me. We can't even get anyone interested in our small rare disease because there are fewer than 1,000 diagnosed patients. We are continually told that no statistically significant conclusions could be drawn from that small a sample. There is no shortage of people diagnosed with autism, though. Why did Wakefield choose to go with case reports rather than a rigorously designed controlled study with a tiny sample? I think it's pretty clear why now. His findings have never been replicated in larger trials because they were bogus. Much easier to distort 13 records than 1300.

Scientists can evaluate papers based on merit. The vast majority of lay people cannot. To them, if it is published it must be valid. They seem not to understand that what Dr. Wakefield did wasted enormous resources and time that could have gone into finding real causation and better therapies. If there truly is a link between vaccines and autism, Dr. Wakefield's unethical behavior has done more damage to actually uncovering this link than any pro-vaccine person ever could. The fact that Jenny McCarthy and her crowd are quick to rise to the defense of a man who actually harmed the cause they claim to support is as absurd as Ms. McCarthy's claim that she 'cured' autism in her son. This situation should serve as a wake-up call for the autism community to clean house of some their more self-serving and ill-informed spokespeople.

Advocacy doesn't mean demanding that everyone accept the indefensible. It means figuring out what is needed and fighting to ensure access.

 
Posted by: Pongo | Jan 17, 2011 11:29:06 AM

 
We have a child that changed the day after
she had multiple vaccines. She has brain damage no question. For those who agree with Dr. Wakefield. Please see Vaccine Information Network(VINE) We subscribe to Dr. Sears way of alternative vaccine schedule. I lost some of my respect today for George Stephanopoulos for his rude behavior to Dr. Wakefield.
Micky

 
Posted by: Micky | Jan 17, 2011 11:33:48 AM

 
Pongo, no matter how YOU feel, Dr. Wakefield was treated disrespectfully. George interrupted him, why did they even invite the Doc on the air? Usually it is to show another view that has not yet been heard. I would like to hear more about his study... since my 2 year old went catatonic after having 8 vaccinations in one day... We didn't know what happened to him, didn't even know where to go for help. We have had a diagnosis now for years and are living with it.
No one dares to do any big studies on autism looking at vaccination percisly because of what has happened to Wakefield. They will be attacked by the media and gov.
I just wanted to hear a fair and objective interview... I should see if FOX NEWS will be having him as a guest. Doc might not get interrupted and I might get to hear about even the small study he has done.
AND you should be applauding his efforts and inviting Wakefield to your town. He would be the kind of guy who might show up to help! Intead you are slamming the only guy who might have been willing to take on all the odds and study the disease going on where you are at.
But if you want to throw your town under the bus, your business.

 
Posted by: Susan Harrison | Jan 17, 2011 11:35:04 AM

 
We would have liked to listened to Dr Wakefield's perception. George, you even went so far as to accuse him of being the source of the rejection of vaccines worldwide and attributed deaths to him. Objections against vaccines started before he was born. See Europe. I don't know the whole story, but your yellow journalism points larger story of high profits with a margin of deaths over the right of parents to chose and risk.

 
Posted by: Tori Clark | Jan 17, 2011 11:36:17 AM

 
Of course, the medical community and studies are going to "gear" their findings and reportings closer to the fact there is no link between vaccinations and autism. It would cause mass panic in an already shaky healthcare system! BUT, you attend any support group for parents with children on the autism spectrum at all and when you find out from those parents that an overwhelming common factor indeed, IS a reaction to the MMR vaccine, you stand there and try to argue with those parents that there is no link. There will always be MORE children who had no reaction so therefore, the studies would say, "no link", but who is going to advocate for the minority of children who this does appear to be a link for? I stand behind the good doctor. George, you have no children who had reactions, do you? Do a study on WHO supports the doctor's comments and who doesn't, there will be your link! My guess is if your child does not suffer any autistic symptoms, you will side with there being no link. If you have a child who has autistic symptoms, you will see the link.

 
Posted by: Vicki | Jan 17, 2011 11:38:59 AM

 
Pongo, science is flawed, if it knows it is guilty of something in hindsight. It will cover it up.
I am not with Jenny McCarthy. I speak for myself and my child. I did not get any information from Jenny McCarthy or make up my mind from HER information. But for years I personally could not figure out why my kids got autism after his 2 year old shots. Then at 4 when the school and gov. demanded he get more, he had a terrible allergic reaction and almost died... then I realized there may be a correlation and studied it for MYSELF.
You can say SCIENCE all you want.. in Science many things are theory.
PARENTS know their children. They know when something goes wrong. Because it is close to their heart they will try to find their own answers when the MEDIA (like George) and Government and SCIENCE turn a blind eye.
I trust PARENTS over SCIENCE any day!

 
Posted by: Susan Harrison | Jan 17, 2011 11:39:37 AM

 
George, I have been slowly giving you more respect since you left the Clinton Administration. Today, the interview with Dr. Wakefield was the worst example or your interview skills I have witnessed. You were not interviewing him, you were putting him on trial and condemning at the same time without letting him speak to the subject your company invited him to address. You lost many points with me today. I hope your employers review todays behavior and provide you with another assignment.

 
Posted by: Ken Ogle | Jan 17, 2011 11:41:24 AM

 
I am shocked that George S. was not interviewing Dr. Wakefield in an unbiased fashion ..... he was executing him. I believe George S. was acting like the judge and the jury -- no interview! Why did you bother to have him on the show? This is not reporting and surely not interviewing him .... no matter what your belief is. George S. was almost like trying to set him up -- inferring that the doc was against all vaccines, and bringing up the whopping cough vaccine which is totally unrelated to this story. Again, I am ashamed of ABC and George S. for airing this interview.

 
Posted by: A concerned mom | Jan 17, 2011 11:41:44 AM

 
George,
I posted my thoughts regarding this interview on Facebook. The right thing to do tomorrow would be to bring in a group of doctors tomorrow who can present their experience, not based on the doctor you interviewed today (though you didn't let him speak much). Please see my post on your facebook site about this. Your report was unfair and one-sided. It almost seemed as if you were representing only your point of view of the point of view of the drug companies, who have manufactured seriously dangerous vaccines in the past (acknowledged by the medical community) and continue to do so. Your failure to acknowledge that certain children can be seriously harmed by vaccines (even the CDC will acknowledge this) is reprehensible. If you care about children, you will tomorrow have a panel of doctors on both sides there to present the whole story.

 
Posted by: Sherry Martini | Jan 17, 2011 11:45:51 AM

 
I watched this again, I do not see where George did not allow the Dr. to speak. Yes, he had his facts and he vocalized them. What? Was George suppose to sit there and just let the Dr. talk and not say anything. I heard the Dr. loud and clear, and personally, it seems to me he is trying to negate what he said to begin with.

 
Posted by: andrea | Jan 17, 2011 11:47:20 AM

 
I think it was a great interview and George needs to be congratulated on giving Dr. Waklefield a chance to defend himself against all the allegations and punitive actions. Agreed that George could have refrained from interrupting Dr. Wakefield several times but he was just trying to keep the interview focused. Yes vaccines need to be as safe as possible even to an extent of almost being ineffective. Ultimately it is an informed decision between parents and their doctors whether or not to give it to their child. If there is certain level of small risk it is worth considering when deciding. It did not come across that Dr. Wakefield was strongly in favor of a link between MMR vaccine and autism. By the way George MMR vaccine does not prevent whooping cough for future reference it is the DTaP vaccine or the Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis vaccine that prevents whooping cough as well as Diphtheria and Tetanus. You cannot blame Dr. Wakefield for the outbreak in California of whopping cough which was due to the health authorities in CA not covering the vaccinations for certain infants in the state or something like that. Also from the interview it seems that Dr. Wakefield himself has taken some steps back in reached a more realistic position of ensuring vaccine safety and leaving it to the parents and their doctors.

 
Posted by: GJKOTW01 | Jan 17, 2011 11:48:40 AM

 
If you weren't going to let Dr Wakefield speak, why did you have him on your show.

I was very disappointed in this segment. It was NOT impartial. The Stephanopoulos approach was embarrassingly adversarial. I like George, but today he reporting was not dedicated to intellectual exchange or the best interest of the viewer.

If I want the George Stephanopoulos point of view, I will subscribe to pages like this one, George's Bottom Line. As an educator with specialized training in Autism the treatment of this very serious allegation was reprehensible and George and ABC should be embarrassed.

 
Posted by: NELSON | Jan 17, 2011 11:48:56 AM

 
George - Where was the "CIVILITY" in your attitude and actions in your interview with Dr. Wakefield? You were extremely rude - SHAME ON YOU!

 
Posted by: Virgie Griffith | Jan 17, 2011 11:50:49 AM

 
The CDC has the incidence of autism at somewhere around 1 in 110 children. What are we going to do when it gets to 1 in 20? Maybe Dr. Wakefield's case series has some light to shed on this, but the industry is too busy burying it. Is it because they fear the liability once the truth is out?

I don't even know what Dr. Andrew Wakefield was trying to say at all. George didn't let him finish a sentence.

PLEASE FIRE GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS,

if that is how he conducts interviews.

 
Posted by: Sheri Perry | Jan 17, 2011 11:57:16 AM

 
I was very disgusted by the way George S. interviewed this man. He gave him no opportunity to respond. He was very rude to the point of being obnoxius!
i think he owes this man an apology.
Besides, if you look at what this man was TRYING TO SAY: i am from the school of some kids come into this world immune deficient and they should be treated differently in regards to immunizations. but i dont know of any test that could determine that. who needs hepatitus b vaccine on the day they are born??????? wake up america before it's too late.

 
Posted by: mary | Jan 17, 2011 12:04:41 PM

 
GJKOTW01 said: "Yes vaccines need to be as safe as possible even to an extent of almost being ineffective. Ultimately it is an informed decision between parents and their doctors whether or not to give it to their child."........

Please check your facts before posting and not listen to what ABC George tells you.
If your child is in public school, it is not "an informed decision". The school tells you that your child has to have vaccinations at a certain time or they are not getting in.

That is why our child is Home Schooled and the BETTER for it. We can now work with our Doctor to make "an informed decision" as to when we want him to have those shots.

 
Posted by: ajax | Jan 17, 2011 12:10:27 PM

 
Thank you! You are the right track with Wakefield. He is a believing his own lies & fabrications based on the finally exposed truth about the research used in his study that feed a false belief to thousands that vacinations was linked to Autism. It is also the parents responsibility to start learning about the misrepresentation of research that Dr.Wakefield used. I was outraged at his constant denial today during your interview. He is believing his own lies. He has caused me a nightmare because so many young parents & young people believed this. We now have an epidemic of whooping cough, severe viral colds because so many people take one docs opinion based on one research study as a cause. not only is this Dr. at fault for believing this linled study of his but so are the thousands of parents who did not vacinate children because of this. Autism is genetically predisposed & connected to neurological malfunctions. I believe this Dr. to be of grave danger to the lives of many of our children & has a good following of people perptrating lies based on little research evidence that has potential to cause greater harm than good. Keep up the good work George. He is one many who hate the US & dont care how many children get sick die in the US. This shows us how easy it is for a Doc in another country to create a false belief among people who will believe just about anything they read on the internet. This is someone who takes research & tries to say it is a cure all for cancer at a health food store. The truth of it is this. Not only will these children have autism they will become even sicker because the were not immunized! That is a health tradgedy because POLIO could be prevented. these parents who are vacinating their children need to ask themselves. Do they want to deal with autism, whooping cough, and Polio? That is exactly what they will have to deal with if they continue to believe this nonesense & Wakefield. Good job George!

 
Posted by: C. J. | Jan 17, 2011 12:12:59 PM

 
George -- I would have liked to hear what the doctor had to say; not because I don't believe in vaccinating children (I have vaccinated my own), but because I want to hear both sides of this issue. Your interview of the doctor was disappointing. Dr. Wakefield was unable to make any substantive points because you were so combative. You made your opinion of the issue abundantly clear during the interview (which is just poor journalism, in my opinion) and then were unwilling to yield to the doctor so that he could defend any of the charges that have been leveled against him. To insinuate that he is responsible for the deaths of 10 children in California is irresponsible. Parents who choose not to vaccinate their children assume the risk that their children will not be immunized against otherwise preventable diseases. It is a tough decision and one that, unfortunately, has costs and benefits on both sides. George, you have clearly made the decision to immunize your own children (as have I). Only time (and history) will tell whether our decision was, indeed, the correct one. Until then, please be a journalist, ask probing and thoughtful questions of both sides of this debate and let your audience make up their own minds. If you are unable to do that, please, as another poster suggested, find a job on Fox News, where your audience will be receptive to the type of sensational and biased journalism you displayed in your interview of Dr. Wakefield.

 
Posted by: Erin K | Jan 17, 2011 12:22:48 PM

 
Ajax you go ahead and check your facts. If any parent wants to exclude a vaccine from the immunization schedule for good medical reason and follows a procedure stating that they do not wish to have their child vaccinated than the school has to honor that decision and admit the student.

 
Posted by: GJKOTW01 | Jan 17, 2011 12:30:34 PM

 
I was shocked and dismayed regarding the lack of professionalism on George's behalf. Is George really trained in journalism? Or is he simply a political-type who got the job? After watching this "interview" I'm willing to bet it's the latter.

 
Posted by: Drew | Jan 17, 2011 12:41:32 PM

 
This was the most biased interview I have ever heard. George, you had your mind made up and you weren't going to let Dr. Wakefield state his case. You were very rude! You have lost any respect I have for you as a reporter.

 
Posted by: Bob Dec | Jan 17, 2011 12:54:16 PM

 
George, I have watched you for years..This morning I watch you cover a story close to my heart, but unfortunately my story, the story of my son was not given a full allocation of time. Wakefield was not the 1st nor was he the last to talk about regression after vaccination. It's not a scare from one man, it's a visual, personal experience progression of events that has been talked about and seen by parents since some of Kanner's 1st patients. This man was a Dr. who listened to the medical symptoms, ran tests and found bowel disease in 12 children, 8 of whom had regressed into autism post vaccines, VIA PARENTAL REPORT. The bowel disease is not a fraud, those children have/had bowel disease..The Deer accusations are really that the parents did not give the same results to the study as were in their general practitioner reports, which Wakefield and his team did not have access to.

Here's my story..In 1998 I had a daughter, beautiful and healthy except for a bowed left tibia..I was told it was not due to positioning and no reason could be found, causes were unknown and it was very rare. (this is something I would hear a ton over the years with my 3 kids). At 4 months old she went in for her normal routine vaccines and within an hour of her vaccines she started convulsing, going stiff have having trouble breathing. Pedi thought it might be for attention, it wasn't, this went on in her sleep for 6 months. Dec 1999 my son was born, healthy, to term, and 9.9 AGARS, walked early, talked early, imitated everything immediately, pointed, smiled early, engaged always, after every vaccine was a fever (doctor said normal), then came the MMR, 48 hours later 105 degree temp, terrible GI pain (screaming with explosive toxic diarrhea), sudden staring episodes (later diagnosed as seizures), followed by full body rash. At this time he was always sick, skills were still there but leveling off, then at 18 months another round of vaccinations, mild fever, next day went vacant, stopped following sister, words became rare, immitation became harder, within a few months I had him evaluated in EI. Every question I answered "he used to do that but I haven't seen him in months", PDD discussed, by the time he was two everything was gone and repetitive behaviors began, diagnosis Autism Spectrum disorder. Child 3, daughter 2003 asked for no hep b, but gave an aluminum containing vitamin K shot, within a couple of hours she almost choked to death, (symptom of reaction to vitamin K shot)I had to give her the infant Heimlich.. I waited 6 months to get any more shots, she developed rashes after them, feeding issues, etc, etc.I stopped. Now you tell me...Did Wakefield convince me of vaccine involvement in autism or did my own children's reactions convince me of pre-existing issues my kids had/have that leave them vulnerable to vaccine reactions which in one of my children led to neurological decline into autism?? What would you do? I research because the media doesn't get it right, I research because the Doctor's never included the right questions, I research because my son needs me to and because the public has abandoned and denied what has happened to him.

I have NO suit, no court case, I will make NOTHING from telling my story. But I felt you needed to understand, Wakefield did not start anything, the bowel disease is real (at 3 my son had endoscopy, colonscopy/scope diagnosed with esophagitis, and red inflamed intestines with unknown cause), Wakefield didn't give my son seizure disorder the facts remain in my son's case and there are hundreds of thousands of other parents with the same story as mine out there. Please investigate and report all of the medical findings in children with autism and stop attacking doctor's that paid attention to children's symptomatology and wrote about it.

 
Posted by: Allison | Jan 17, 2011 12:58:12 PM

 
Why have the title that includes the phrase "speaks out"? George did not allow Dr. Wakefield to speak a complete sentence without interrupting him. Regardless of which side one is on in this matter, the interviewer should not be so blatantly biased and rude. I did have great respect for George until I saw this interview. His personal bias must have played a big part in how he treated Dr. Wakefield. It was inexcusable up to the closing shot of George slamming his notes into his lap with a look of disgust.
Let the public decide themselves after the interview. As a spouse of a doctor that sees cases of autistism daily. Parents continually tell the story of their child changing shortly after a vaccination. Day after day, case after case. It is heartbreaking. Something is related and I believe someday we will know this for sure.

 
Posted by: Taylor | Jan 17, 2011 1:15:29 PM

 
By the harsh tenor of this "interview", the intention of which appears to have been to allay any fears of vaccinating children by using the tactic of continuing to attempt to damage the reputation of Dr. Wakefield, one of the few voices brave enough to confront the pharmaceutical powers and call for research into vaccine safety, George Stephanopoulos has managed to damage his own credibility. George Stephanopoulos either does not know all of the facts of this story or is simply following orders to satisfy the "vaccinate at any cost" agenda. Either way, this is not honest journalism and Mr. Stephanopoulos should be ashamed of himself. The important issue here and the only thing that should really matter is the safety of our children. Obviously some very powerful business and political interests don't like getting their profits attacked. After all, don't power and profits trump truth and safety every time.

 
Posted by: Paul Campadonico | Jan 17, 2011 1:21:51 PM

 
One just has to look at the autism rates among countries that have mandatory vaccines, and those that dont.

 
Posted by: Daniel | Jan 17, 2011 1:38:18 PM

 
you guys are idiots... you're more concerned of him attacking this Dr., rather than trying to understand the dire implications of a doctor making up data - him falsifying studies has led to millions of people worldwide wrongly believing a link of autism and vaccinations, which is a major health threat to the world... because many parents believed this link, many children have died because they did not receive the available vaccinations - at a much greater rate than those who were "protected" from autism by not getting them... there's a thing called controls, there's a thing called reproducing data over and over again, there's a thing called using multiple data sets that are random in selection, all of which are meant to validate scientific research by showing all possible factors for cause and effect... his study did not do this, which is why it has been retracted... this man not only disrespected the scientific community, he risked many lives.... the general public, which is mostly devoid of extensive scientific knowledge, rely on the word of doctors to give them the best possible information... and this man fooled a lot of people...

 
Posted by: what the deuce? | Jan 17, 2011 1:45:49 PM

 
there was a very interesting article in the NY Times magazine recently about the problems facing scientists, doctors, and researches and their inability to replication experiments and flaws in the scientific method. Also recall Karl Poppers idea about the problem of induction and falsifiability. There are also SERIOUS issues with peer reviewed research, publication bias, and selective reporting in medical, and especially, drug studies but also in other areas.

 
Posted by: Ed | Jan 17, 2011 1:46:57 PM

 
You would think George could have at least agreed with Dr Wakefield on the issue of the need for "safe vaccines." It is indeed very disappointing that the interviewer was so extremely one sided. I agree Paul, George should be ashamed of himself for caving into what could very well be the "unseen corporate powers at be" and therefore acting like a small puppet on a big stage.

 
Posted by: fred | Jan 17, 2011 2:09:40 PM

 
Kudos to George and GMC for not letting Wakefield spin and fabricate. Wakefield is a fraud who has done a great deal of harm to public health, and it would be irresponsible of any news outlet to let this charlatan mislead parents anymore than he already has. Wakefield has dug a very deep hole for himself, and his only answer to the charges against him is "everybody else is lying." Of course George cut him off. If Wakefield wants to finish a sentence, he needs to start telling the truth. Then we'll listen.

 
Posted by: AutismNewsBeat | Jan 17, 2011 2:16:04 PM

 
I'm so angry after watching this!! I used to like you George, but you have disappointed me today. You don't know what you've done today to the thousands of families who know the truth about what vaccines and other toxins have done to our children. There are many doctors researching this and have evidence that they do contribute to autism. Please don't report what you really don't understand. You have to live it to really know the truth.

 
Posted by: JJ | Jan 17, 2011 2:38:43 PM

 
Wakefield, Murch and Walker-Smith have never said that MMR causes all autism or that MMR is solely responsible for the rise in autism. It was a witch hunt.

Selective Hearing, Brian Deer and the GMC, Dr Andrew Wakefield Autism MMR Film

************
and peer-reviewed papers support the findings of the original work by Wakefield and colleagues at the Royal Free Hospital in the UK:

Papers that support the findings in Wakefield's paper do not have to have anything to do with vaccines because Wakefield's paper was about GI symptoms and onset of regressive behaviour.

 
Posted by: Rachael | Jan 17, 2011 2:44:32 PM

 
Like many others, I am extremely disappointed with George S. His interview with Dr. Wakefield was horrific. Poor journalism at its best. He was very one-sided & righteous in his interaction with Dr. Wakefield. Those of us that know the research and the information regarding this study, know that George was not truly knowledgeable on the topic, and if he would have let Dr. Wakefield speak he would have found that he isn't against vaccinations, he supports safer vaccines. If you are going to be a reputable journalist, please present both sides, and don't have a guest on your show if you aren't going to let them speak about their point of view. If you would have allowed him to speak, maybe you would have found what a truly admirable, intelligent, respectful human being Dr. Wakefield really is. I'm appalled at your interview, and immediately turned to the Today show. Unfortunately, this interview has turned one of your loyal watchers to a more profeesional news program.

 
Posted by: Jennifer | Jan 17, 2011 2:50:16 PM

 
The interview highlighted George's lack of interviewing skill. It sounded more like two children arguing than intelligent discourse, or investigation.

 
Posted by: Laure | Jan 17, 2011 3:32:32 PM

 
In response to Pongo's wordy, senseless response to George's interview. What credentials do you possess that qualifies you to make such statements on a very serious, heartbreaking subject you apparently have never investigated? (As evidenced clearly by your statements.) Also, do you have first hand knowledge that allows you to criticize Jenny McCarthy regarding the healing of her son? Until you can write something worthwhile and useful to heartbroken parents such as myself please stop interfering with your nonsense. Open your ears and mind and listen to parents!!! Not to biased TV pundits!!!

 
Posted by: Donna Titze | Jan 17, 2011 3:49:31 PM

 
We have nine children and we've had two pediatricians who do not and have not vaccinated their children either. I wonder why?

 
Posted by: stephen | Jan 17, 2011 4:23:09 PM

 
George, why did you attack the doctor like anderson cooper on cnn did? you completely indicted the man. dig deep and do the research and look at who the opponents are being supported by.

 
Posted by: stephen | Jan 17, 2011 4:24:44 PM

 
Georges’ interview this AM with Dr. Wakefield was very disappointing. If this interview was suppose to get the facts out then George’s “interview” failed. He never allowed he doctor to answer his questions; George kept always interrupting. It sounded to me (and I am sure many others) that George had an agenda to discredit Dr Wakefield. In this brief recapitulation above on the interview , the writer also bring in the non-issue about whooping cough, something that the Dr. W. had nothing to do with.
The fact that ABC and all the other networks get a HUGE amount of cash from the pharmaceutical companies speaks loud and clear as to why this interview was so slanted and biased. Yes, scientists and reporters also have their agenda, it all depends where their funding comes from… Money and Greed underlies much of what goes for science and the bottom line.

 
Posted by: John | Jan 17, 2011 4:46:00 PM

 
The manner in which G.S. interviewed Dr. Wakefield was shocking. What happened to innocent until proven guilty. Here it's just a matter of which side you support. I'd like to know where and by whom the 20 studies were done disproving Dr. Wakefield's findings. The pharmaceutical/medical communities have everything to lose if this man should be proven correct.

Until someone proves the tremendous increase in autism I will not discard any findings that may prove help this investigation.