To the editor:

I have watched with dismay the chias at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under the leadership of RFK jr. the science and research organizations CDC and FDA have lost many talented people. Critical decisions are being made by individuals with little experience and limited understanding of the subject matter.

Why should you care? What can go wrong when a lawyer and a businessman give medical advice? When Donald Trump decided to promote unproven ties of acetaminophen to autism, he put pregnant women at risk. He put the unborn child at risk.

With RFK jr and DJT distributing untrue information about multiple vaccines, many can be harmed, especially young children and elderly. Vaccines have reduced infant and child mortality. A visit to any cemetery will show you how many families lost children to infectious diseases in the last century. We risk recurrence of polio, measles and other contagious diseases.

I urge you to get your medical advice from medical professionals not presidential announcements. Vaccines have saved more lives than any other medical intervention. Although medications have risks, the benefits of vaccines far outweigh the risks.

Please have your children vaccinated. Get your flu and COVID shots this fall. Take advantage of the life saving vaccines that are available

Joan Krikava, MD

Retired physician