The link between autism and vaccines, and particularly the mercury-rich preservative thimerosal, is a highly controversial topic that often brings strong responses from both sides, but it's hard to argue with facts.

Take, for instance, a study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Vaccine Data Link that concluded that children who receive thimerosal-containing vaccinations are 27 times more likely to develop autism than children who do not.

Or, consider that Amish children -- who typically don't receive vaccinations and rarely have autism.

Let's face it, mercury is a potent neurotoxin. Injecting it into a child with a rapidly developing nervous system can have terrible consequences. It is true that in many childhood vaccines, the mercury has now been removed -- but only to be replaced with equally damaging toxins such as aluminum and formaldehyde.

Here is a partial list of some of the other fillers that vaccines can contain:

• aluminum hydroxide
• animal tissues: pig blood, horse blood, rabbit brain, dog kidney, monkey kidney, chick embryo, human diploid cells (originating from human aborted fetal tissue)
• monosodium glutamate (MSG)
• phenoxyethanol (antifreeze)
• sorbitol
• sucrose

If you are a parent on the fence about vaccines, please take the time to carefully evalute this issue before making a decision that could alter the life and health of your child forever. Doing so could mean the difference between life and death.