RFK Jr.’s gutting of vaccine panel is tragic, political mistake (Letters)

Gutting of vaccine panel is tragic, political mistake

Re: “RFK Jr. ousts entire vaccine advisory committee,” June 10 news story

Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert Kennedy Jr.’s decision to fire all the experts on the ACIP (Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices) will be a tragic, political mistake. They are excellent, ethical scientists.

Our data has shown that every time a new approved vaccine has been introduced into Colorado, the incidence of severe infectious diseases affecting our children has dramatically decreased. The current measles outbreak in the U.S. is a clear example of the lack of adequate measles vaccination.

Any effort to replace true experts who rely on randomized double-blind clinical trials with other members who may have political or conspiracy bias is a disaster waiting to happen. Instead, parents should rely on vaccinating their children based on the recommendations of the Colorado Board of Health, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and their child’s physician. Vaccines are considered one of the most effective public health accomplishments of the 20th and 21st centuries. We should continue to go forward, not backwards.

James Todd, Denver

Editor’s note: Todd is a retired infectious diseases pediatrician.

Iran seeking admission into nuclear weapon club

Every time another country pursues a nuclear weapon, the United States and other members of the nuclear club are alarmed. But when that country finally gets the bomb, the others begrudgingly accept it into the club. And indeed, nuclear weapons are much better at deterring nuclear attacks by others than for actually using offensively.

Iran is most likely no different. Any country in its circumstances would be sorely pressed to acquire the ultimate deterrent.

No matter what any of us may think of the Iranian government, Iran is balancing against Israel chiefly but also against the United States. The international system, the product of independent states pursuing their own security, abhors an imbalance. Unbalanced power does not restrain itself. In the Middle East, Israel is the unbalanced power. In time, some state or combination of states will rise to restore a balance.

In the last two years, Israeli leaders have scoffed at American concerns and American laws regarding the civilian toll of its wars. Now, Israel wants to drag us into its ill-considered war against Iran. We would be foolish to comply.

If you agree that we must not jump into this war, please email your Senators and House Representatives. And write to President Trump as well, at whitehouse.gov/contact/.

Todd Buchanan, Eldora