An article in the Standard-Examiner recently from the Washington Post reported that people can’t be talked into getting vaccinations, despite the miracle of modern vaccinations that have stopped measles, mumps, polio, diphtheria, smallpox and tetanus.

I think I would like to try my best to talk you into it anyway.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports an alarming increase in measles in Europe from only 2,017 cases in 2016 to 24,000 cases in 2017. In 2018 there were 41,000 cases between January and June with 37 deaths from measles. WHO blamed the increase on declines in vaccination rates. In the 1950s, polio was killing 3,000 people a year in addition to paralyzing thousands. Thanks to the polio vaccine, this was stopped. We can do the same to the measles virus.

This year there are new reports of major outbreaks in America.

If those numbers and reports don’t make you stop and think, let me tell you my own story about measles. When I was 5-years-old and just starting kindergarten, I contracted measles. Unlike others who got measles and recovered from it with no serious side effects, I was not so lucky. As a result of measles, I was left with a 50% hearing loss in both ears. That began a lifelong struggle of trying to deal with the world while having a major handicap.

The first thing we were told was that there was nothing that could be done medically to cure my hearing loss. This is evidently still the case as this is the same thing I am told every time I go to a doctor, even one specializing in ears. In 2001, when I returned to Utah, I had a complete medical checkup, including a head MRI. The answer then was the same as in 1953: “There’s nothing medically we can do.” In this age of so much progress in medical science, nerve deafness remains incurable. The only thing left was to try and deal with the problem in non-medical ways, which meant hearing aids and dozens of lip reading classes.

The 1950s, hearing aids were in their primitive development stages and were almost worthless, except to notify others that a person had a hearing defect. Despite all the touting of improvements in the performance of hearing aids, they remain far from ideal. The problem remains of trying to amplify sound into a nonworking air canal. Loudness does not compensate for lack of ability to understand. Because of the damage to the ear done by measles, making noise louder does nothing to make it understandable.

I developed the love of music in an early age, but I know I don’t hear all the notes and various musical instruments. Also, most of the song lyrics are not understandable to me. I have to look up the lyrics to know what words the singer is singing. This includes such beautiful songs is sung by the Tabernacle Choir. I also struggled to understand my wonderful grandchildren and other children.

A lifetime of not being able to hear normally has not been fun. I wouldn’t wish the bad experiences I’ve had on anyone. Misunderstandings with friends, colleagues, coworkers, employers, children, and other relatives have resulted in misunderstandings and hurt feelings when none were meant. Some people have no compassion for “unseen” disabilities.

Measles was declared eliminated in the US in the year 2000. However, non-vaccinated people from other countries brought the virus back and measles spread again because of non-vaccinated people. People who have not been vaccinated are the largest threat to the help of others in the world today.

Parents, please vaccinate your children. Adults, it’s not too late for you to stop the further spread of this disease. Children should receive the first vaccine between 12 and 15 months and the second between the ages of 4 and 6.

I’ve shared my example of hearing loss as a result of measles with you, but remember bad cases of measles have also caused death. Now that’s something to think about.

The attempted scare tactics of TV and movie stars to say that vaccines cause autism and other problems have been sufficiently debunked. The physician who started the autism scare of measles vaccines has been disgraced and his data labeled bogus. Still, the faulty story persists.

I don’t want anyone feeling sorry for me as I have had, for the most part, a wonderful life. I have a wonderful wife, four wonderful sons and lots of grandchildren. However, it could’ve been so much better without the disability caused by the measles.

There really aren’t any good reasons to not help overcome the dreaded measles disease for the sake of your own health, your children’s health and everyone else’s health and ability for everyone to have a happy and healthy life. Let’s get busy and do it!

If this letter saves just a few from a life of disability, it will have been worth it.

Robert Bullough is a resident of Ogden.