To the Editor:

I just received the July 24 issue of The Smoky Mountain News, which gave the immunization records of Haywood County Schools. The paper reported 4.8 percent of Haywood kindergarten students had not received their immunizations. It is below Buncombe (9.9 percent) and statewide (5.9 percent). Medically, this is a tragic neglect of these children who must suffer the risk of disease which we can prevent.

Of interest, these figures follow closely the performance of the children in the classroom. The lowest percent of unvaccinated children are at Bethel, Junaluska and Riverbend Elementary Schools which are our highest performing schools. The highest percent of unvaccinated children are in Shining Rock Classical Academy (11.4 percent) and Haywood Christian Academy (11.1 percent).

Doris B. Hammett, MD

Waynesville