Measles

To the Editors of The Crimson:

I would like to offer one correction to The Crimson's July 3 article about the recent measles immunization effort at UHS. The article stated that everyone born before 1957 who has never had measles should be immunized. Actually, only those born after 1957 and who have not had a booster since 1980 need immunization. Measles was so prevalent before the first vaccine was introduced in 1957 that those born before that time can be assumed to have natural immunity. An individual's immune status can be checked with a blood test, but it takes extra time to do so. In the emergent situation described in the article, the guideline of innoculating everyone born after 1957 and lacking a booster after 1980 was used. Charles H. Weingarten, M.D.   UHS Chief of Medicine