A Matter of Priorities

“Thousands of children nation-wide could go unvaccinated later this year against such diseases as measles, mumps and whooping cough because public funding for immunization programs has failed to keep up with the skyrocketing cost of vaccines,” (Part I, June 24). While Congress has no problem with annual appropriations of about $300 billion to protect the welfare of the military-industrial complex, it does not have enough money to protect many of our children against disease.

According to the manufacturers, the increased cost is due to the cost of lawsuits related to vaccine-related injuries. In order to control costs, Congress has passed a law creating a federal vaccine injury-compensation system. But who is paying for the program? The cost of the program is covered by a surcharge of about $4.56 a dose, which will be passed on to the parents of the children and to the public agencies caring for the poor.

SOL LONDE

Bel Air