REMEMBER THE SHOTS

What good news it was to hear that the donated organs of a 13-year-old Cape Girardeau boy had helped to save the lives of five others following the lad's untimely death from bacterial meningitis last week.

The parents of Michael Sweet will always cherish the memory that out of something so horrible came so much good.

The Sweets also are among those who urge parents to have their children properly immunized against meningitis. A vaccine that is effective in prevention of the disease is readily available.

Also, the federal government last week approved the first-ever vaccine for the prevention of chickenpox. This nuisance disease strikes some 4 million children every year. Although most chickenpox victims only suffer itchy bumps, the disease kills up to 90 people a year and hospitalizes more than 9,000 victims.

Since World War II, giant strides have been made to offer medical prevention for many childhood diseases that otherwise would kill or maim thousands each year. Polio and measles are just two of the diseases that have been virtually eliminated, thanks to the miracles of science.

But the vaccines work only if the general populations receives the inoculations at the rights times. Many parents have become lax on some of the vaccinations, wrongly thinking that the diseases have been wiped out and the shots aren't necessary.

This is a parental responsibility. Please make sure your child -- or grandchild -- has been properly immunized.