SLO County’s top health officer pushes back against new federal vaccine schedule | Opinion

Proven vaccine schedule protects children

As a public health officer and as a parent, I know that every decision about a child’s health comes from a place of love and responsibility. Parents want the best for their kids — and they deserve accurate, science-based information.

That’s why I’m deeply concerned about the recent federal decision to reduce the number of vaccines recommended for children in the United States — a move made without the usual review by independent experts or the opportunity for public input.

The West Coast Health Alliance — which brings together public health leaders from California, Oregon, Washington and Hawaii — continues to strongly endorse the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Recommended Immunization Schedule, as do I. The AAP vaccination schedule is grounded in evidence, transparency and the collective expertise of the medical and scientific community.

When children miss critical immunizations, we risk the return of vaccine-preventable diseases — illnesses that can lead to missed school days, hospitalizations and even death. In San Luis Obispo County, our community’s strong vaccination rates have protected families, seniors and entire communities from these preventable threats.

Parents should continue to make informed decisions in close partnership with their pediatrician, based on the AAP’s evidence-based schedule. Vaccination remains one of the greatest achievements in modern medicine —and one of the greatest gifts we can give our children: a healthy, protected future.

Dr. Penny Borenstein

County Health Officer

What are county supervisors waiting for?

There is conclusive evidence that our country Sheriff’s Office is helping ICE. This is immoral if not illegal. Just in early January, ICE killed Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and ICE shot two in Portland, Oregon. Yet our county Board of Supervisors fails to stop our sheriff’s support of ICE. Why? Are our supervisors pleased with the sheriff helping ICE? Are they afraid of ICE or our sheriff? Are they so concerned about getting reelected they are compromising their values? Are they just apathetic? We need to encourage our Board of Supervisors to say and do the right thing.

What should we do?

Reward their saying and doing the right thing by donating to their next campaign; helping their campaign; praising them in public.

Punish their not saying and doing the right thing by embarrassing them in public. Protest with signs of their failures and publicly promise to support their opponents in the next election Let’s insist on the Board of Supervisors we need and deserve.

Jeff and Cindy Lewis

Templeton

King for a day

Wouldn’t it be appropriate to change the name of MLK Day to Trump King Day? King Trump Day would be better, but we all know that Trump has to come first. Jay Devore

Los Osos

Judicial appreciation

I enjoyed David Middlecamp’s article on Judge Richard Harris.

I would not call Judge Harris “cantankerous,” although he had little tolerance for “bad lawyering” or lack of preparation and did not mince words.

Judge Harris was one of the best judges I tried cases before. He was smart, knowledgeable and well-prepared. He was rarely reversed and was best at “protecting the record.”

Justice Wickson Woolpert once called him “the smartest man he knew.” Harry Murphy commented that Judge Harris always out-researched the lawyers.

While Judge Harris could be sharp and pointed, he also had a soft, human side. He treated pro-pers with respect. Ronald Finucane was the son of a deceased top trial lawyer and Justice Court judge — and the brother of your opinion editor. Judge Harris turned down Ron’s request for an OSC (order to show cause) by saying, “I loved your father and I love you, Ron — but I don’t love your OSC.”

On another occasion, he broke down while speaking at the memorial service for Judge Timothy O’Reilly.

As your article mentioned, Judge Harris filled in on the bench after retirement with many weeks of trial work. The article did not mention that the work was done for free — truly pro bono.

Congratulations on your fine article about a top legal figure in our community.

Barry Hammer

Pismo Beach

Editor’s note: Barry Hammer is a retired San Luis Obispo County Superior Court Judge

What a comfort!

It’s comforting to know that our district attorney is one who gathers all the facts, views all the videos, takes statements and testimony from witnesses and participants and makes sure he has all the relevant information before coming to a conclusion as to one’s guilt or innocence.

It’s very satisfying to know that the DA for this county will bring an unbiased and fact-based legal opinion into our courtrooms. How disappointing it would be if, like some in our federal Department of Justice and the White House, he was one of those on-line trolls who spew misinformation and/or jump to conclusions without the benefit of a comprehensive, unbiased investigation.

Richard Mortensen

San Luis Obispo