Response to “Are Vaccines Safe?”

Sat., Feb. 17, 2018

The letter concerning safety of vaccines (“Are vaccines safe?” Feb. 2) left me with my jaw dropping.

First of all, vaccines do NOT cause illness. The flu vaccine does not contain a live virus. To suggest (as the writer did) that vaccines DO cause the flu is reckless and beyond belief.

Secondly, the flu vaccine for the current year is developed the year previously. As the flu virus is subject to mutation, it is impossible to create a vaccine that will cover all viruses out there. Some years are better than others.

And finally, having had a flu shot last fall, AND having the flu itself in January, I’m certainly glad for the vaccine, or I probably would have been much sicker than I was. Remember, in the flu pandemic of 1918, 50 million people died worldwide. Does the write prefer that to the vaccine?

Laurie Anderson

Spokane

Letters Policy

The Spokesman-Review invites original letters on local topics of public interest. Your letter must adhere to the following rules:

No more than 250 words
We reserve the right to reject letters that are not factually correct, racist or are written with malice.
We cannot accept more than one letter a month from the same writer.
With each letter, include your daytime phone number and street address.
The Spokesman-Review retains the nonexclusive right to archive and re-publish any material submitted for publication.

Unfortunately, we don’t have space to publish all letters received, nor are we able to acknowledge their receipt. (Learn more.)

Submit letters using any of the following:

Our online form: Submit your letter here
Mail: Letters to the Editor
The Spokesman-Review
999 W. Riverside Ave.
Spokane, WA 99201
Email: editor@spokesman.com
Fax: (509) 459-3815
Phone: (509) 459-5430