Childhood Vaccines

Eric L. Hurwitz’s Jan. 30 commentary on vaccinations was well-titled (“Parents Should Know Both the Benefits and Risks of Vaccinations”) but quickly lost focus. The balancing of medical risks is one of the hardest things for a doctor to explain to a new parent. Asking parents to sign consent forms is not a bad idea, but consent is not the same thing as informed consent.

No vaccine carries a 100% guarantee of safety. While parents need to know the risks involved in any vaccination, they also ought to know the risks in not vaccinating: epidemics of infectious disease. The United Kingdom has a rising number of measles cases, primarily due to growing parental refusal of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. And these diseases are not just minor annoyances--they can be serious, debilitating, even deadly.

The MMR vaccine may never be proven totally safe. But we will never be safe from these diseases without it. Parents should at least be told that.

HOWARD FIENBERG

Statistical Assessment Service

Washington