Editor,

I am writing in support your editorial about vaccination.

My parents were alternative health zealots going back in the early days of the 20th century. Some of what they believed makes sense today.

For example, as a child on a hobby farm not far from Disneyland in California, I helped grow organic vegetables and collect organic eggs from free-run chickens.

Some of what they believed was dubious. I milked a cow while in junior high and drank raw milk.

Some of what they believed was probably very dangerous. At the height of the polio epidemic my siblings and I were not vaccinated. Why did we not get polio? Probably herd immunity.

I understand the reluctance to let children be vaccinated. We live in a community. We want complete freedom to do as we please, but our actions have consequences for others.

Sometimes we must evaluate conflicting arguments, and sometimes society must require people to obey laws they dislike, for the safety of others.

Stephen Khan

Langley