SAN DIEGO -- For years, the debate has raged.

Do childhood vaccines cause autism?

One local mother said there is a direct link between vaccinations and her son's autism.

It's always been an uphill battle for Becky Estepp and her son, Eric.

Like any 10-year-old, Eric is a handful.

However, he needs a little more care because he has autism.

Eric's mother said it was not until he was almost 3 years old before he showed any symptoms.

"I had months and months of perfection and typical development and something happened and he changed," said Estepp.

She said her son started getting sick within hours of his hepatitis B shot.

"And it was like one day he was poisoned," said Estepp.

Estepp isn't completely against vaccinations, but said the government must reconsider the number of shots given and the frequency.

"I want the toxins out of the vaccines. There are preservatives in our vaccines because it saves the drug companies money," said Estepp.

She said the recent settlement won by a Georgia family who said vaccinations led to their daughter's autistic behavior is a milestone.

"It's vindication," said Estepp.

Eric is one of 4,800 cases in the court system alleging that there is a link between autism and vaccinations.

Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control said parents should continue having their children immunized.

"Children need to be vaccinated because vaccines save lives. All you have to do is look at the outbreaks of measles and the terrible situation of polio that still exists in many parts of the worlds," said a local health official.

Those words are not enough for Becky Estepp, who has chosen not to vaccinate Eric's younger brother.

The CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics maintain there is no known link between vaccines and autism.