LETTER: Anti-vaxxers and measles

George Evashwick Bullhead City, Arizona August 9, 2026 - 9:01 pm Recent measles outbreaks have dominated public‑health headlines. According to televised reports, 95 percent of those who contracted the disease had not received a vaccine. This figure is striking given that measles, polio and smallpox were once driven to near‑global eradication through immunization programs. Today, the rise of anti‑vaccination sentiment is undoing that progress. Regardless of whether one identifies as a Democrat or Republican, or leans toward liberal or conservative views, vaccination carries no inherent drawback. A now‑discredited study from the United Kingdom that suggested a link between vaccines and autism has been rejected by virtually every medical professional and health authority. Robert Kennedy Jr., often noted for his conspicuous tan, lacks medical or epidemiological credentials. Public‑health officials urge parents to vaccinate their children and to rely on expert guidance when making immunization decisions.