Adults should keep up with childhood vaccinations

Keeping up with shots

A reader found out that she was no longer immune to childhood diseases, such as measles, and needed to get another vaccine. She encourages adults to stay current on their shots. — A reader discovered she was no longer protected against childhood illnesses such as measles and needed another vaccine. She urges adults to stay up to date on immunizations.

Re: “Through research, U.S. defends against infectious diseases,” Another View:

I commend Dr. Larry Schlesinger and the Texas Biomedical Research Institute for continuing to study the risks infectious diseases can pose when illnesses once believed to be gone resurface.

I had measles at age 4, along with my three siblings, chickenpox at 4 and rubella at 5. I got measles again at 19.

As infectious diseases and other illnesses from childhood continue to circulate, it is important for people to check their immunity status through simple blood titer tests.

When I joined the Air Force at 24, I learned I was immune to measles and rubella. I also learned I was no longer immune to smallpox, so I received the vaccine again.

I am now a senior citizen, and my VA primary care physician advised me to have testing to see whether I was still immune to those childhood diseases. I was not, and I had to get an MMR vaccine. I also had to repeat my DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis) vaccine for the same reason.

Since then, my 45-year-old son has also had to repeat his MMR, DTaP and smallpox vaccines.

Ruth E Webster, Converse

Balcones Heights' silence

On Oct. 26, 16 Bexar County residents, including state Sen. José Menéndez, spoke to the Balcones Heights City Council about concerns with the 287(g) agreement that the Police Department voluntarily signed to enforce immigration law.

Instead of discussing the agreement in depth, council members declined to comment.

That was embarrassing for them and disrespectful to those of us who spoke, as well as to the residents they represent.

Rebecca Flores

Think bigger, S.A.

I grew up in San Antonio but left in 1991 because the city was thinking too small.

The Texas Department of Transportation should expand Loop 1604 and Loop Interstate 410 all the way around the city to at least four or five lanes in each direction while it is still less expensive to do so.

At the same time, San Antonio International Airport needs to be enlarged well beyond its current size if it is to compete with larger airports.

San Antonio has plenty of potential. It does not have to keep thinking small.

Thomas Hennessey, Los Angeles, Calif.