This is in response to a staff article by Stacey Bahr dealing with a link between autism and vaccines.

I’m offended that you would even write such junk science. The cause of increased autism is not vaccines, but increased diagnosis.

The vaccines against diseases require herd immunity — that is, the more people are vaccinated, the more resistance they will have as a group because it will be harder for diseases to spread. Whooping cough epidemics which kill are being reported in California, which are directly related to anti-vaccine movements such as this one. Not vaccinating your child hurts everyone around you.

The one published paper that links vaccines and autism has been peer reviewed, and the review found no link between the two. The journal has retracted the paper, and the doctor behind it was effectively disbarred from medicine.

You have written unproven thoughts, and this article can kill people.

Mark McGivern

Albert Lea

Editor’s note: The article you reference was an opinion piece on the Opinions page, not a news story. Bahr, the mother of an autistic boy, clearly is entitled to her opinion.

Thank you for your letter Mark, as it correctly does what an opinion piece is supposed to do. Your letter further promotes dialogue on this topic, which is good for all.

Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea intends to provide a response as well.