Dear Editor,

I’m glad to see the uproar about measles vaccination. It’s high time this issue is addressed. One of my biggest obstacles as a school nurse in the Highline School District was unimmunized students. Parents objected, fearing that the vaccine could cause autism. Or they claimed religious or personal objections. There was no way of knowing if their religion prohibited it. And parents did not have to explain their personal objection.

Confusion and misinformation about the vaccine may have resulted when a British doctor published a bogus study claiming the measles vaccine caused autism. His findings have been discredited and never replicated in succeeding studies but some parents still don’t believe the scientific evidence. This doctor lost his license because he falsified study results. He can no longer practice medicine.

In all states, we would be wise to mandate immunizations like they do in the state of Mississippi. Kids and unimmunized adults must receive the measles shot, unless there is a medical prohibition or it’s demonstrated that a particular religion prohibits it.

Parents must become informed of the dangers of incomplete immunization. If their child gets measles, they can pass it on to babies too young for the immunization or others who are immune compromised. An inadequately immunized pregnant woman exposed to measles can have premature labor, miscarriage, low birth weight and damage to the baby. Lasting complications from measles can be brain damage or permanent hearing loss.

The protection from vaccinations should be emphasized. Measles is serious and preventable.

Thank you
Elizabeth Desimone
Burien,WA 98166