Pediatrician urges Massachusetts lawmakers to close a loophole that puts children at risk

By Everett Lamm, M.D.

Read the entire Opinion at the Berkshire Eagle

“Do no harm.” That’s the guiding principle of medicine.

As a pediatrician, I’ve carried it with me into every exam room, every conversation with a worried parent, and every recommendation I’ve made to protect children from preventable diseases. One of the simplest and most powerful pieces of advice I’ve had to offer is that vaccines are the best protection we have against dangerous and deadly illnesses.

However, these conversations have become more complicated. Vaccine skepticism is rising, and in Western Massachusetts, immunization rates in dozens of schools have dropped to alarming levels. In many districts, rates have fallen well below the threshold needed to protect not just individual students but entire classrooms, neighborhoods and communities.

I understand that parents have questions, and I welcome these conversations. I’ve found that when we sit down together, listen to each other’s concerns and discuss the facts, many parents reconsider and choose to vaccinate their children. This kind of dialogue is essential for keeping children healthy.