Sir, – I was very pleased to read in your editorial that Ireland is now free of rubella ("Immunisation – beating rubella", May 6th).
Rubella had a profound effect on our family as I contracted it early in my third pregnancy. Our son Ian was born in 1977 with multiple disabilities and health problems and spent several months in hospital. He died at 17 months having endured much during his short little life.
In the following year, I wrote to the then minister for health, the late Charles Haughey, outlining the serious financial cost to the State of our son’s condition, apart from the obvious suffering of the little child and of our family. I pointed out the lack of awareness surrounding this issue. Some time later a health awareness campaign was broadcast on RTÉ television warning of the risks associated with rubella in pregnancy. I like to think that my letter may have played some small part in raising awareness of the dangers of rubella. – Yours, etc,
BERNA GORDON,
Cobh,
Co Cork.