Letter to the editor: Protecting everyone from measles

Thank you to Ian Karbal for shining a light on the concerning rise in measles cases in Pennsylvania (“Measles cases up in Pa. and some counties lag behind school vaccination targets,” April 7, TribLive).

In this context, vulnerable populations include babies too young to be vaccinated, cancer patients in the middle of chemotherapy, children with rare immune conditions and others who will not be protected against measles unless we step up. For them, herd immunity is a lifeline.

Measles isn’t just a rash. For example, nearly half of blood cancer patients who contract measles suffer life-threatening complications like pneumonia or brain inflammation. As a genetic counseling student, I regularly meet with these types of families. They carry so much already. They shouldn’t have to worry about a disease that was eliminated in the United States 25 years ago.

When you’re deciding whether to vaccinate, please remember those who don’t get to decide. In a time when so much divides us, let’s choose compassion. Let’s choose to protect not just ourselves — but each other.

Alyssa DiPaolo

Aspinwall

The writer is in the Johns Hopkins University/National Institutes of Health genetic counseling training program, Class of 2025.