To the Journal editor:
With the recent news of measles outbreaks in the United States, I feel compelled to comment. Measles is still a very dangerous, highly contagious disease that causes the deaths of between 300 to 400 children every day according to the World Health Organization.
Nearly 30 percent of children who contract measles suffer complications such as vision loss, hearing loss or brain damage. When one person has measles, 90 percent of those they come into contact with will become infected, if they have not been vaccinated or have not previously contracted the disease.
While most of these complications occur in areas of the world that do not have easy access to vaccinations, we cannot afford to be lax here in the U.S.
Lions Clubs International Foundation is partnered with the Global Alliance for Vaccinations and Immunizations in a mission to eradicate measles by 2020.
Funds raised by the LCIF Measles Initiative are matched dollar for dollar by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the United Kingdom's Development Fund to deliver needed vaccinations and develop social mobilization and advocacy efforts in the fight against measles and rubella.
For less than $1, a child can be immunized against measles for life, making the vaccine potentially the most cost-effective health intervention available.
For more information or to donate to this cause, please visit www.lionsclubs.org or contact your local Lions Club.
Joe Baczkowski, secretary
Marquette Lions Club
District LCIF Coordinator