Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump stated that while is in favor of vaccines, the dosage and timing have a link to autism at Wednesday’s primetime debate on CNN.

Trump said, “Autism has become an epidemic. 25 years ago, 35 years ago, you look at the statistics, not even close. It has gotten totally out of control. I am totally in favor of vaccines. But I want smaller doses over a longer period of time. Because you take a baby in, and I’ve seen it, and I’ve seen it, and I had my children taken care of, over a long period of time, over a two or three year period of time, same exact amount, but you take this little beautiful baby, and you pump — I mean, it looks just like it’s meant for a horse, not for a child, and we’ve had so many instances, people that work for me, just the other day, two-years-old, two-and-a-half-years-old, a child, a beautiful child went to have the vaccine, and came back, and a week later got a tremendous fever, got very, very sick, now is autistic. I only say it’s not — I’m in favor of vaccines, do them over a longer period of time, same amount, but just in little sections. I think you’re going to have — I think you’re going to see a big impact on autism.”

Fellow candidate Dr. Ben Carson responded that Trump is “an okay doctor. But, you know, the fact of the matter is, we have extremely well-documented proof that there’s no autism associated with vaccinations. But, it is true, that we are probably giving way too many in too short a period of time. And a lot of pediatricians now recognize that. And I think, are cutting down on the number, and the proximity in which those are done, and I think that’s appropriate.”

Trump then said, “That’s all I’m saying.”

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