Economic Side Effects of a Malaria Vaccine

Re “The Hope of a Vaccine,” editorial, June 30: Your extensive editorial discussion of the goal of developing a vaccine for malaria and the hopes for a similar path with HIV is laudable. In some ways, this is firefighting. You appeal to the scientific community to overcome these plagues.

As you know, malaria was on the decline all over the world with the use of DDT. But at that time, the compromises on the health of the individuals versus the environmentalists were won by the latter.

You predict success within maybe 10 years. What do you predict about the economics of supporting the folks in the African countries when their birthrate creates millions of disease-free individuals who cannot support themselves? Please don’t suggest that the U.S. start a fund to underwrite basic existence in those areas.

Richard Jennings

Bakersfield