Immunizations

Your Aug. 10 editorial supporting mandated immunization benefits for insured children was a welcome boost to the drive for universal immunizations. The editorial rightly cites our poor record on protecting children through immunizations in the U.S.

As a new charitable foundation dedicated to disease prevention and health promotion programs for Californians, we have set childhood immunization programs as a high priority. The task of immunizing the uninsured is daunting enough without adding to our burden the “otherwise (under)insured.”

That our state laws don’t already require immunization coverage as a matter of course is a disgrace, particularly in light of our recent experience with a measles outbreak, which resulted in nearly 14,500 measles cases and 41 deaths of children under age 4 in California since 1990.

HOWARD A. KAHN

California Wellness Foundation

Woodland Hills