Regarding "RFK Jr and Abbott talk about Texas measles outbreak, but neither pushing vaccine" (Mar. 4): I was a Polio Pioneer. In 1954, at the age of 8, I participated in one of the first polio vaccine trials. Polio, like measles, is a highly infectious disease and was a scourge during my childhood. In 1952, the worst polio outbreak in U.S. history occurred with 57,628 cases, 3,145 deaths and 21,269 cases of paralysis.

For the betterment of mankind, parents were brave to allow their children to be part of these momentous field trials. Their bravery sprang from fears that one of their children would be infected with the polio virus, or infect others, and possibly end up dead or in an iron lung, a device that helped people breathe.

Our parents listened to scientists and doctors who explained the purpose of this program. Were there mishaps? Of course. But these nationwide trials led to the eradication of polio in the United States. Because of the implementation of polio vaccines, worldwide polio has disappeared except in Pakistan and Afghanistan.