Protect children and
have them vaccinated
In the past four months, the U.S. has had 1,000 confirmed cases of measles. That’s a lot. It doesn’t include many more who suffered at home and didn’t see a health care provider. This is sad, and a bit crazy.
In 2016, local transmission of measles was eliminated entirely from the Western Hemisphere. Not just the U.S., the whole hemisphere. This was possible because people got vaccinated. Two doses of vaccine in childhood gives almost complete protection against measles.
Now, because of misinformation about vaccine safety, fewer people are protecting their children from this sometimes-deadly disease.
Robert Kennedy, secretary of Health and Human Services, has been pushing vitamin A and cod liver oil as a cure. Not sure where he’s getting his information, but he’s got this wrong.
Vitamin A can decrease severity of illness in vitamin A-deficient kids age two or younger. Based on this, giving vitamin A to measles-infected youngsters in South Asia or sub-Saharan Africa makes sense, because vitamin A deficiency is common there.
In the U.S., vitamin A deficiency is rare. Fewer than 1 in 100 people have it.
Taking large doses of vitamin A or cod liver oil could lead to build up, damaging the liver. Plus, there is no proof it helps in people who have enough vitamin A in their system already.
Secretary Kennedy might have muzzled the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but we can still do the right thing: Long story short, it’s better not to get sick in the first place.
Protect our keiki! Get ’em vaccinated!
Richard Leman
Honokaa
Response to letter about
the Second Amendment
Just finished reading the letter to the editor, May 9, by Tony Guiteras, Papaikou: “This is why we have the Second Amendment.”
I was blessed to visit Washington, D.C., on Jan. 20 to witness the inauguration of the bravest patriot who fights for that beautiful amendment you mentioned in your letter, as well as all the other rights you enjoy here in “blue” Hawaii.
Our president is the great defender of America and upholds the beautiful Constitution.
So, you have the right to pen your despicable and hateful letter, and our president defends your right to do so. This fact is one of the reasons I love him.
You wrote, “Peace and love.” Yes, our president is for these.
I pray for your family and neighbors, because you do own guns, and the fact you stated: “We may need them (guns) if a president refuses to leave office.”
I pray for you God’s . Love your neighbor as yourself.
Patricia Enoka
Papaikou
