Dear Editor,

Have the federal cuts by DOGE been impacting those of us in Gilpin County? The short answer is yes, as shown by the recent cancellation of vaccine clinics at the Gilpin County Community Center on March 28 and April 25.

The clinics were funded by a federal grant that was to respond to the COVID pandemic. This grant was budgeted for and approved by Congress. However, the Trump/Musk/Kennedy triumvirate decided that COVID is over and therefore funds are no longer needed to vaccinate the vulnerable citizens against this disease that killed over a million people in this country.

At the same time anyone considered to be "at risk" and over the age of 65 is advised to have a second vaccine this year. The Gilpin County Health Department, in an effort to be as efficient as possible, also provides other vaccines at these clinics. This includes the measles or MMR vaccine.

The MMR vaccine has been proven to be safe and effective by numerous studies. As of this week there have been 712 reported cases in the 24 states reporting. There have been 541 cases in Texas alone. The third case has been reported in Colorado this past week. Measles is so contagious that nine out of ten people exposed to someone with the virus will become infected unless they are immunized.

Measles also has serious life changing consequences, such as ear infections, pneumonia, encephalitis, and complications for pregnant women.

Herd immunity is the best way to prevent the population in general from having a major outbreak, like we are experiencing right now.

Summer is coming. Millions of people will be vacationing in Colorado, from places like Texas. Because of misinformation repeated by people like Robert Kennedy, Jr., the vaccination rate is not high enough for many subpopulations in this state to maintain herd immunity. My understanding is that we need a 96% vaccination rate to obtain herd immunity. I have heard the vaccination rate in Gilpin County Schools is 90%. The likelihood of the children in Gilpin suffering from the DOGE cuts is unacceptable.

Contact Congress and stop the unconstitutional cuts to services that are needed to keep Gilpin County safe.

Greg Petty

Black Hawk