As a 89-year old mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, I worry about the health of my children and America’s children. I need to tell my story about life without vaccines. MORE OPINION LETTERSThe measles vaccine became available in 1963 and there was a decrease of 97% of cases between 1965 and 1968. The measles vaccine has saved millions of lives. Jonas Salk created the first effective polio vaccine in 1955.