The debate over vaccines

Re “Shot full of myths,” Opinion, May 3

The Times has run two recent Op-Ed articles extolling the wonders of childhood vaccinations and vilifying parents who listen to the “wind” and object to childhood shots for fear that they cause autism.

Why don’t you invite an objective mouthpiece who has honest, scientifically backed-up arguments that vaccines are not proved safe, that the jury is still out on vaccines causing autism or any of a number of other autoimmune dysfunctions?

So many pediatricians have expressed skepticism about vaccines’ effectiveness and safety -- but then they might not fill whatever agenda The Times and the drug companies are following.

David Goldenberg

Studio City

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I want to thank Ryan Coller for his Op-Ed article on parents who don’t vaccinate their children.

When I first entered pediatrics, I routinely cared for children who would die or be disabled by bacterial meningitis. Today, my younger colleagues have never seen a case of bacterial meningitis because of the effectiveness of the vaccine program.

It is time to speak out against those denying their children vaccines.

I agree that a parent has the right to choose their child’s care, but the optimal care is a “therapeutic alliance” -- the parents and doctor need to agree that proper care should be based on the best medical information, not on celebrity opinions.

I try to educate patients with the information supporting vaccines, and if they remained unconvinced, I help refer them to someone whose opinion they can trust.

Michael Ozaki MD

Huntington Beach