Select an option below to continue reading this premium story.
Already a Honolulu Star-Advertiser subscriber? Log in now to continue reading.
We all know that vaccines are primarily administered to protect the immunized against disease, but they also serve to protect those who are unimmunized. Therein lies the conundrum.
Is it fair for the relatively few who are exempted from vaccinations due to nonmedical reasons to accept the benefit of the immunization of the majority?
If those exempted by choice do not want to share in the relatively small risk of adverse reactions to vaccines, perhaps they would be willing to seek separate education venues from the vaccinated majority. When taught together, immunized might suffer some unnecessary disease exposure from unimmunized kids, who are more likely to be infected.
The nonimmunized could be home- schooled, tutored or schooled in other isolated environments. Their choice should be to either share the vaccine risk or avoid exposing others to higher disease risk. Freedom of choice can have consequences.
Gerald Ching
Waialae Iki
EXPRESS YOURSELF
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser welcomes all opinions. Want your voice to be heard? Submit a letter to the editor.
>> Write us: We welcome letters up to 150 words, and guest columns of 500-600 words. We reserve the right to edit for clarity and length. Include your name, address and daytime phone number.
>> Mail: Letters to the Editor, Honolulu Star-Advertiser 7 Waterfront Plaza, 500 Ala Moana, Suite #7-500 Honolulu, HI 96813
>> Contact: 529-4831 (phone), letters@staradvertiser.com, staradvertiser.com/editorial/submit-letter