The "Vaccine fears debunked" story that ran on the same page as "Ship of Death: A voyage that changed the Atlantic world" (Express-Times, Nov. 20) provides two cautionary tales. The first story is current and spotlights the faulty arguments used by adults who refuse to have their children get timely vaccinations.

The second story was about the 18th century sailing ship Hankey, setting out on a voyage of hope and abolitionism. Its voyages ended in spreading death by yellow fever from contaminated African stream water to dozens of ports in North America, Europe and the West Indies.

Today’s anti-vaccine advocates, whose cause has been advanced by Jenny McCarthy, co-host ABC-TV’s “The View,” are part of a rumor mill that believes autism is induced by vaccines. A British medical paper that was originally cited to discredit the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine has proven fraudulent. Its author, Andrew Wakefield, lost his medical license.

Kids, parents and society have a lot at stake with preventing the spread of childhood contagious diseases. Princeton University and Monmouth University are dealing with outbreaks of meningitis. Fortunately, there is an unauthorized European vaccine that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration will allow officials to distribute.

RICHARD STEVENS

Pohatcong Township