Letter to the Editor of the Star Tribune

IAC applauds the editorial that recognized the parallels between the parents of Danny Hauser and parents who fail to immunize their children against life-threatening diseases

May 28, 2009—IAC applauds the editorial that recognized the parallels between the parents of Danny Hauser and parents who fail to immunize their children against life-threatening diseases.

Editorial Department
Star Tribune
425 Portland Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55488

May 28, 2009

To the Editor:

We at the Immunization Action Coalition applaud Thursday’s editorial recognizing the parallels between the parents of Danny Hauser and parents who fail to immunize their children against life-threatening diseases.

Parents should know that U.S. vaccine recommendations come from an open process led by the brightest minds in pediatrics, immunology, infectious disease, epidemiology, and other relevant disciplines. The result is a vaccine schedule that protects children at the age when vaccination is safe, effective, and needed while incorporating the flexibility to address individual circumstances. It is not a “one size fits all” regimen, as is sometimes claimed.

Sixteen of the victims of last year’s measles outbreaks were babies too young to have received the measles vaccine. Infants still die every year of whooping cough because their families and visitors have not received the pertussis vaccine. Invasive Hib disease hospitalized five Minnesota children in 2008, killing one. The choice to opt out of immunization is a choice to endanger others.

Think of others. Listen to your healthcare provider and CDC. Immunize your children.

Deborah L. Wexler, MD

Deborah L. Wexler, MD
Executive Director

Contact:
Julie Murphy
Direct of Development
(651) 647-9009
julie@immunize.org