Unvaccinated immigrants help increase disease rate
The story “Why whooping cough is making a comeback” (News, Sept. 1) focuses primarily on the reduction of the effectiveness of the new vaccine introduced in the 1990s. The article failed to also address several other key factors. For one, during the past 20 years, with the increase in autism, a number of parents have avoided vaccinating their children for numerous communicable diseases. This has made many of our youth more vulnerable than in the past. More of a factor is the significant increase in immigration, both legal and illegal, from countries with low rates of vaccination and much higher rates of illnesses. Schools and communities are reporting increases in tuberculosis, mumps, measles, whooping cough, flu, chicken pox and HIV. The highest rates of increase are in communities with large inflows of immigrants. I’m not saying these are bad people – just communicable disease carriers. As long as our country allows unregulated entry of unvaccinated people, we will continue to see increases in these illnesses.
P.D. GOSSAGE, JOHNS CREEK
Respecting Constitution means opposing Kavanaugh
Regarding Walter E. Williams’ column, “Those against Kavanaugh are against the Constitution” (Opinion, Sept. 12). Oh, please. I am opposed to Brett Kavanaugh, the Supreme Court nominee, simply because he has the support of Donald Trump. And I assume Mr. Kavanaugh supports Donald Trump. Therefore, I ask two questions: 1) Does supporting a racist qualify you as a racist? I think it does. 2) Does supporting a bold-faced liar make you a liar? I don’t think it does. But does supporting a bold-faced liar make you someone I cannot respect? Yes, it does. And I cannot support someone I cannot respect to sit on the highest court in the land. The stakes are far, far too high. No, Mr. Williams, I am not “against the Constitution.” In fact, my respect and love for the Constitution are exactly why I am opposed to Kavanaugh.
MIKE CANFIELD, ATLANTA
