RFK Jr.’s plans for eliminating both vaccinations and fluoride in drinking water are dangerous and radical ideas that will make the American population, especially our children, less healthy and will cause catastrophic medical problems. The vaccines for DPT — diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus, along with the polio vaccine, have saved millions of lives. There is no credible scientific data showing otherwise.

His ideas about combating chronic illnesses are not new. We have real challenges before us in making the American population healthier. After practicing medicine for over 40 years, here are some ideas that I think will help.

1. Expand the Head Start programs so that all children start off the day with a healthy breakfast.

2. Require nutrition education from elementary through high school.

3. Expand food stamp programs (SNAP).

4. Require physical education from kindergarten through 12th grade and make physical education classes mandatory the first two years of college. That was what was required of me my first two years at the University of Illinois. My joy of swimming and exercising daily started with those classes in 1962 and continue to this day. I am now 80 years old.

5. Increase funding for mental health. Many times depression is a factor in developing obesity.

6. Increase our medical school classes so we can produce more primary care physicians, pediatricians, and Ob-gynecologists.These are the specialties where there is the greatest need.

7. Increase physician’s assistant, nurse practitioner, and registered nurse programs. There is a critical shortage of these health care professionals.

We have many health care challenges in America — we have the resources to meet these challenges and create a healthier America.

Eli Porth

D.O., Diplomate of the American Board of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Hadley