Ellie Daniels' letter to the editor of April 28 compels me to respond, especially her reference to universal access to childhood immunizations, a cause that I have pursued throughout my career.

Maine physicians' efforts to increase funding for childhood immunizations has not been a one-time effort at the Statehouse nor is it confined to the state of Maine.

Yes, we physicians stand for science, training, education and quality of care, and we believe we did the right thing to ensure the safety of mothers and newborns in the recent lay midwifery licensing debate.

However, Daniels evidently has not witnessed the hard work of the many pediatricians, family physicians, organizations such as the Maine Medical Association's Public Health Committee and others, who spent considerable time advocating for more than 80 bills affecting public health and the well-being of our children.

This bill was fully endorsed by the Legislature, but lost out in the competition for funding. We will continue our efforts until we reach our target goal of a 90 percent immunization rate in Maine, now a part of the recently published Maine State Health Plan.

If the lay midwives spent as much time at the Statehouse promoting public health initiatives as they have on their provincial efforts to enhance their status through state licensure, they would join the many healthcare advocacy organizations working collaboratively to improve the health of all Maine citizens.

Dr. Larry Losey

Parkview Adventist Medical Center

Brunswick