Critics of Childhood Vaccinations

I would like to respond to “A Vocal Attack on Vaccines” (March 12). While I agree that parents should be advised of the possible side effects as well as the risks and benefits associated with vaccines, and that the medical establishment should continually strive to ensure the safety of vaccines, it would be a grave mistake to choose not to vaccinate children.

I have worked in the African country of Angola, which is recovering from over 30 years of war. Medical care throughout the country is scarce. On the streets of the capital city it is not uncommon to see children and adults, rich and poor, crawling on their hands and knees or unable to use their arms, crippled from polio. As part of my job I often accompanied medical professionals to towns which had not benefited from the country’s vaccination programs for several years. Whooping cough represented one of the most common ailments afflicting children and adults. Many of the children who had had measles, tetanus or meningitis we did not see because they had already died.

It is true that unlike countries at war or with scarce medical facilities, people in the U.S. have access to good medical care, so if children contract measles, whooping cough or other childhood diseases they will probably live, but the risks of the diseases far outweigh the risks of vaccinating children.

SHEILA GRUDEM

Anaheim

Your article overlooked one significant point: The more people are vaccinated, the less may be the risk of going without, because there are fewer chances to be exposed to the disease. Yet, the potential risk of the vaccination itself is unchanged. Some people may perceive that this tips the balance against getting the shot for themselves or their children. CARL DANNER

Alamo, Calif.

The attacks on the efficacy of vaccines are unfounded and dangerous. Between 0.7 to 4.5 per thousand children with or without vaccination are autistic. Neurological deficits can happen with or without vaccines. Vaccines are vaguely blamed for these neurological problems.

Cities like Los Angeles with large immigrant populations will see a large epidemic of infectious disease if our children are not properly immunized. This was seen several years ago when an outbreak of measles occurred in L.A. and about 40 cases were reported. This was similar to 36 cases of whooping cough in the ‘70s in England, when there was a drop in vaccination rates because of negative publicity about vaccines.

DINESH GHIYA MD

Whittier