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http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/262/letter/Debate_on_childhood_vaccination+.shtml

What is the point of vaccinating if it doesn't protect against disease carried by the unvaccinated?  Is vaccination only supposed to work if other people are vaccinated?  Can one say that it "works", if that is the case?  If it doesn't work, what is the point of vaccinating?   - SM

Debate on childhood vaccination

9/19/2002

S THE MOTHER of two young children and a professional who works with polio survivors, I was interested to read your article about West Coast mothers choosing not to vaccinate their children against pertussis, or whooping cough (''Parents weigh decision to vaccinate,'' Page A3, Sept. 9).

This issue is alive in our area as well. Some of the women in my mothers group have debated giving their children vaccines against common childhood ailments, fearing the side effects. I, for one, see in my daily work the devastating lifelong repercussions of polio and cannot fathom putting my child at risk for polio, whooping cough, or even chicken pox.

I feel fortunate to live in a country where we have access to vaccines against these potentially life-threatening diseases. Why put your children and the rest of us at risk?

ANNA G. RUBIN

Framingham

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ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.