Readers React: A message to moms and dads: Get your kids vaccinated

To the editor: I cannot agree more with Margaret Harmon: Vaccination is the best way to keep everyone safe from potentially devastating diseases. (“Measles is back: a mother’s warning,” Op-Ed, Sept. 13)

The odds of a child suffering ill effects from a vaccination are remote. It appears that the increasing number of parents who invoke the “personal belief” exemption to avoid vaccination may be significantly contributing to the rise in measles cases.

If your pediatrician accepts your decision not to vaccinate, get a second opinion. Inform yourself about the hard science. It could save your child’s life. Don’t take our freedom from the occurrence of dangerous childhood diseases for granted.

You are not being “modern” in refusing to vaccinate your children; rather, you are posing a danger to society. Just because you were of the vaccinated generation and have not seen the severe effects of these diseases does not mean that they will not exist in the absence of vaccination. They will.

You can bet your child’s life on it.

Joanne Polvy Cohen, Sherman Oaks

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To the editor: Harmon’s recalling of the words said in regard to her measles-stricken child — “if he makes it through the night” — brought back memories.

I caught the measles virus when I was 5 years old. In 1943, the only thing to do was to put me in bed in a darkened room and hope I would not die. Even so, those who recovered might be blind or deaf. The vaccine had not been invented yet.

I remember having a hard time trying to sleep, but finally I did. How long I slept, I do not know. I recovered but am deaf in one ear, which was discovered when I was 7. My elementary school promptly taught me to lip read; some folks find it awkward when I stare at their lips.

Lucky, you say, but I can’t remember being able to tell the direction of sounds. That has been lost.

Yes, I am indeed fortunate and can shout out to all mothers and fathers: Get your children vaccinated.

Carmine A. Casucci, Anaheim

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