Fifteen measles cases have been confirmed in Gaines County, Texas, a region with one of the highest rates of vaccine exemptions in the state. Health officials are investigating possible links to private religious schools and have set up vaccination clinics to address the outbreak. The county's exemption rate for school vaccines is significantly higher than the state and national averages, raising concerns about the spread of measles.
Measles and tetanus vaccine vials are ready to be administered at the Dallas County Health & Human Services immunization clinic in Dallas, on March 8, 2019.Fifteen measles cases – mostly in school-aged children – have been confirmed in a small county in West Texas with one of the highest rates of vaccine exemptions in the state.
“I wouldn’t say they’re all connected, but our teams are looking into exposure sites and the background of those cases,” he said. Texas law allows children to get an exemption from school vaccines for reasons of conscience, including religious beliefs. The percentage of kids with exemptions has risen over the last decade from .76% in 2014 to 2.32% last year, according to Texas Department of State Health Services data.
The measles, mumps and rubella vaccines is a two-shot series: The first is recommended at 12 to 15 months old and second between 4 to 6 years old. The vaccine is required to attend most public schools in the U.S.
MEASLES VACCINATION OUTBREAK TEXAS RELIGIOUS EXEMPTIONS
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