Decades ago, my youngest daughter had severe pneumonia and, without access to the quality health care here in Las Vegas, this episode would have been life-threatening. Right now, so many other kids around the world are at a higher risk of vaccine-preventable diseases like pneumonia, as COVID-19 forced some of these programs to go on hold.
Now more than ever, we must invest time and capital into the creation and distribution of vaccines. We cannot let these frightening, unprecedented times cause us to lose progress on diseases we have done so much to combat globally, such as polio and measles. Polio cases have decreased by 99% since 1988 and we are getting very close to completely eradicating the disease. Measles vaccines have saved 23 million lives since the year 2000 and a single life-saving vaccine can be produced for less than $4.
We are on the brink of creating a vaccine for COVID-19, but need to make sure all children have access to it and other lifesaving vaccines. If you believe in the importance of this mission, contact Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen to voice your support for global childhood immunization programs.
No child, here in Las Vegas or anywhere in the world, should have to suffer from a disease we already have the means to prevent, especially as the coronavirus rages on.