A lone soldier writes
Regarding “Israel’s lone soldiers on view” (May 2), I was this person in 1971 when a bunch of my American friends joined the army together. I proudly served my country and continued to serve during the Yom Kippur War. I was very lucky to live on a kibbutz where I had an adopted family. I would do it again in a heartbeat.
ZINA ZIMMERMANN
Briarwood, N.Y.
Focus on measles vaccine
In “Measles clinic targets adults” (April 25) there is a statement regarding licensing of vaccine as being from 12 months to 12 years that is medically incorrect.
The MMRV vaccine is licensed from 12 months to 12 years of age, but that is the one that includes Varicella (chicken pox). The MMR vaccine does not include the V component and has different licensing and restrictions.
MMR vaccine is given, usually in two doses separated by at least 28 days, usually beginning at 12 months of age. It can be given to infants as young as 6 months of age for travel, but that early dose would need to be repeated at age 12 months to receive longer/lifetime protection.
The second dose is usually given between age 4 and 6 years of age (school entry), and gives the lifelong protection. If a child receives a 2nd dose before age 4, but the 4 weeks separation condition has been met (there are other conditions such as other live vaccines, blood transfusions, illnesses), there is no need to receive a third dose at age 4. Lifelong immunity is considered met.
Any other person above 12 months of age receiving two doses of vaccine, meeting the 28 days separation between doses, is good on immunity. I have worked in health care for many years and giving MMR and many other vaccines was part of my job in public health.
JOANIE HUNN, RN
Fairfax
‘Goy’ is a slur
Regarding “Is ‘goy’ a slur?” (Voices, May 9), I would like to add one comment from the perspective of a Jew who grew up in an Arab country (Iraq). For the Iraqi Jewish community, a “goy” had a negative connotation, so much so that our parents and grandparents told us: “lo ta’min lagoy afillu beqeber” (Do not trust a goy even if he is in the grave). It is deeply rooted in the suspicion and often fear that one can never be sure what an interlocutor goy may be plotting.
NIMROD RAPHAELI
Senior Analyst (Emeritus)
Middle East Media Research
Institute
