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Tag: measles

  • Texas Lawmakers Look to Make Child Vaccine Exemptions Easier for Parents as Measles Outbreak Continues

    Texas Lawmakers Look to Make Child Vaccine Exemptions Easier for Parents as Measles Outbreak Continues

    Texas lawmakers have approved a bill to simplify the vaccine exemption process for schoolchildren—just as the state contends with its worst measles outbreak in decades.

    On Sunday, the Texas Senate passed House Bill 1586 in a 23-9 vote. The legislation, authored by Rep. Lacey Hull, doesn’t alter the state’s vaccine schedule but makes it easier for parents to opt out by allowing them to download exemption forms online rather than requesting them through the mail, as reported by the Texas Tribune.

    Since 2003, Texas law has allowed parents to claim vaccine exemptions for their children based on medical, religious, or conscientious grounds. Over the years, demand for exemptions has surged, doubling from 45,900 in 2018 to over 93,000 in 2024.

    The move to make vaccine exemptions easier comes as the state is currently experiencing a major measles outbreak, with 729 cases reported since January and two confirmed child deaths.

    Supporters, including groups like Texans for Vaccine Choice, hailed the bill as a win for parental rights and government efficiency. Meanwhile critics, including public health advocates and The Immunization Partnership, warn the bill will lead to a drop in vaccination rates and a rise in preventable diseases. They argue that easier access to exemptions will compound current health risks, especially as the state grapples with an ongoing measles crisis.

    Gov. Greg Abbott now has the final say on whether the bill becomes law.

    Originally published on Latin Times

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  • Anti-Vaxx Mom Whose Daughter Died From Measles Says Disease ‘Wasn’t That Bad’

    Anti-Vaxx Mom Whose Daughter Died From Measles Says Disease ‘Wasn’t That Bad’

    The parents of an unvaccinated Texas child who died from measles appeared in a video formulated by an anti-vaccine advocacy group where they railed against vaccines, even saying the disease “wasn’t that bad.’

    A 6-year-old Texan died after contracting measles last month, marking the first death of a child in the U.S. caused by the highly contagious illness in nearly a decade.

    Following her death, the anti-vaccine advocacy group Children’s Health Defense met with the child’s parents, whose four other children also suffered from milder cases of the same illness, as reported by Mother Jones.

    During the interview, the young couple doubled down on their decision not to vaccinate their child even after her death. Hailing from the Mennonite community, they argued that if measles patients had access to untested treatments, the MMR vaccines would be entirely unnecessary.

    “We spent the morning at Dr. Ben Edwards’ clinic, and the parents are all still sitting there saying they would rather have this than the MMR vaccination because they’ve seen so much injury, which we have as well,” journalist Polly Tommey said while interviewing the couple. “Do you still feel the same way about the MMR vaccine versus measles and the proper treatment with Dr. Ben Edwards?”

    “Absolutely [do] not take the MMR [vaccine],” said the mother. “The measles wasn’t that bad. [The other children] got over it pretty quickly. And Dr. Edwards was there for us.”

    The parents described the symptoms of the illness their child exhibited, beginning with a fever, respiratory symptoms and the notorious rash that often accompanies it. However, days after contracting the illness, the child’s fever continued and respiratory symptoms worsened as she began struggling to breathe.

    The girl’s parents took her to a hospital emergency room where she was admitted and diagnosed with pneumonia. After being placed on a ventilator in the Intensive Care Unit, the child passed away.

    The measles outbreak in Texas has spurred many public and political figures to take to their platforms and encourage residents to get vaccinated and vaccinate their children. This includes Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who previously promoted anti-vaccine views.

    RFK Jr. published an op-ed in Fox Digital earlier this month acknowledging that the decision to vaccinate is a “personal one”, but encouraging people to vaccinate to mitigate the spread of the disease regardless.

    “Vaccines not only protect individual children from measles, but also contribute to community immunity, protecting those who are unable to be vaccinated due to medical reasons,” he wrote earlier this month.

    Originally published by Latin Times.

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  • ‘Measles Parties’ A Deadly Gamble, Officials Warn—Get Vaccinated

    ‘Measles Parties’ A Deadly Gamble, Officials Warn—Get Vaccinated

    As measles cases surge in Texas, health officials are raising alarms over a troubling trend: parents intentionally exposing their children to the virus in so-called “measles parties” hoping to build natural immunity. While some believe this approach mimics the immunity gained from past infections, experts warn it’s a dangerous gamble that could have fatal consequences.

    Measles parties are inspired by the chickenpox gatherings of the 1970s, where unvaccinated children were deliberately exposed to the virus in hopes of developing immunity at a young age when the illness was considered milder. However, experts warn that this approach is far more dangerous when it comes to the measles virus.

    Dr. Ron Cook, chief health officer at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, calls measles parties “a foolish thing,” as the virus is highly unpredictable, and there is no way to determine how severe an infection will be.

    “We can’t predict who is going to do poorly with measles, be hospitalized, and potentially get pneumonia or encephalitis and or pass away from this. It is just too risky … we don’t get to pick and choose who is going to do well and not do well when you become severely ill. Please don’t do that, it’s just foolishness, it’s playing roulette,” Dr Cook said in a press conference.

    Around 30% of children who contract measles may develop complications, and the infection can lead to long-term health consequences, he warned.

    “There are severe outcomes like pneumonia or death. There is encephalitis or inflammation of the brain. Even more rare, but it can happen … years down the road after you develop measles, you can get what is called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, which is fatal. It is a known side effect of having measles,” Dr. Cook added.

    Texas health officials also warn that intentionally exposing children to the measles virus does not just put them at risk, it endangers other unvaccinated individuals and those with weakened immune systems, increasing the potential for severe complications and outbreaks.

    The safest way to protect against measles is to get vaccinated. Receiving two doses of the MMR vaccine provides 97% protection against measles, significantly reducing the risk of infection and severe complications. Without immunity, nearly everyone exposed to measles will contract it, and once infected, there is no specific treatment to cure the disease.

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  • RFK Jr. Pushes Unproven Measles Treatments Amid Surge; Experts Urge Vaccination

    RFK Jr. Pushes Unproven Measles Treatments Amid Surge; Experts Urge Vaccination

    As measles cases spike in Texas, affecting 159 people, hospitalizing 22, and claiming the life of a school-aged child, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. expressed “deep concern” about the outbreak while promoting an unconventional treatment protocol.

    “As the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I am deeply concerned about the recent measles outbreak,” Kennedy Jr. said in a statement.

    In a Fox News interview, Kennedy Jr. praised measles treatment using vitamin A, the steroid budesonide, the antibiotic clarithromycin, and cod liver oil, claiming they yield “good results.” However, health experts warn that it should not replace vaccination and caution against relying on it entirely.

    Measles is a highly contagious virus that spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It starts with fever, cough, and red, watery eyes before a telltale rash appears. While most cases resolve on their own, complications like pneumonia, blindness, and brain inflammation can be severe, especially for unvaccinated individuals.

    Kennedy Jr. acknowledged that vaccines not only protect individual children from measles but also contribute to community immunity, safeguarding those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons. However, in an opinion piece on Fox Nation, Kennedy Jr. said the decision to vaccinate kids will be a personal choice. Meanwhile, he emphasized the importance of good nutrition and the consumption of vitamins such as A, B12, C, D, and E as the “best defense against” chronic and infectious illnesses.

    He also pointed to a 2010 study showing that two doses of vitamin A treatment reduced measles mortality by 62%. The same study found that the measles vaccine is highly effective, with one dose preventing 85–95% of cases and two doses up to 98%.

    Since vaccines remain the only proven way to prevent outbreaks, some doctors worry that promoting unconventional therapies during a surge could undermine vaccination efforts and fuel misinformation online.

    The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reaffirmed last week that vaccination remains the strongest defense against measles, as no specific antiviral treatment exists. However, the agency acknowledged that supportive care, including vitamin A administration under the guidance of a physician may help in managing the infection.

    “Relying on vitamin A instead of the vaccine is not only dangerous and ineffective, but it puts children at serious risk,” Dr. Sue Kressly, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, told The Washington Post.

    Experts like Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security believes that supplementation with vitamin A helps in cases where there are deficiencies but it “really doesn’t have much of a role in the current discussion on the West Texas measles epidemic because it becomes a distraction about what we really need to focus on, which is vaccinating our kids.”

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  • Health Officials Beg Texas Families Not to Attend ‘Measles Parties’ As Push to Get Kids Vaccinated Continues

    Health Officials Beg Texas Families Not to Attend ‘Measles Parties’ As Push to Get Kids Vaccinated Continues

    Texas health officials have pleaded with families residing within the state, urging them to avoid attending “measles parties” and ensure that their children are vaccinated in the wake of a severe measles outbreak that has already killed one child.

    “Measles parties” refer to gatherings in which attendees deliberately expose themselves to the illness within a controlled environment in order to build natural immunity instead of obtaining a vaccine, reported Dallas News.

    “It’s not good to go have measles parties … let me discourage you from doing this,” Dr. Ron Cook, chief health officer for the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbock, said during a Friday press briefing. “We can’t predict who is going to do poorly with measles, be hospitalized and potentially get pneumonia or encephalitis and or pass away from this.”

    Prior to the invention of the chicken pox vaccine in 1995, people would attend “chicken pox parties” for the same reasons, resulting in the rapid spreading of the illness. Measles is among the most contagious viruses globally and can severely impact those who are not vaccinated.

    As of Monday, there are nearly 150 cases of the illness in the state, according to the Texas Department of Health Services, with one unvaccinated child dying from the illness last month.

    “There are severe outcomes like pneumonia or death. There is encephalitis or inflammation of the brain. Even more rare, but it can happen … years down the road after you develop measles, you can get what is called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, which is fatal. It is a known side effect of having measles,” Cook continued.

    Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has also encouraged people to get the measles vaccine following news of the outbreak, despite previously stating that the outbreak was “not unusual” during President Donald Trump’s first Cabinet meeting.

    “Ending the measles outbreak is a top priority for me and my extraordinary team,” Kennedy said in a post on X.

    Originally published by Latin Times.

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  • Measles Outbreak in Texas County With Low Vaccination Rate Multiplies, More Cases ‘Likely’

    Measles Outbreak in Texas County With Low Vaccination Rate Multiplies, More Cases ‘Likely’

    Measles is ripping through Gaines County, Texas—cases have more than tripled, and health officials warn the worst is yet to come. The highly contagious virus is spreading fast, with more infections “likely” in the days ahead.

    The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) confirmed 48 cases as of this week, up from just 14 last Friday.

    “Thirteen of the patients have been hospitalized,” the agency stated in a press release. All of the cases involve individuals who are either unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown.

    “The best way to prevent getting sick is to be immunized with two doses of a vaccine against measles,” DSHS advised. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is 97% effective at preventing infection.

    Health officials attribute the outbreak to low vaccination rates. Only 82% of kindergartners in Gaines County public schools are up to date on their shots, well below the 95% threshold required for herd immunity. The county also has an 18% exemption rate for vaccines due to religious or personal beliefs.

    “We’re trying to get out the message about how important vaccination is,” Zach Holbrooks, executive director of the South Plains Public Health District told CNN. He stressed those exposed or symptomatic should get tested at the mobile screening unit in Seminole, Texas.

    “Measles is a serious yet preventable disease,” added Dr. Jamie Felberg of the South Plains Public Health District. “Staying up to date on vaccinations is the most effective way to safeguard yourself, your loved ones, and the community.”

    “Additional cases are likely to occur in Gaines County and the surrounding communities,” DSHS warned.

    Originally published on Latin Times

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  • Measles Outbreak in Texas County With Low Vaccination Rate Multiplies, More Cases ‘Likely’

    Measles Outbreak in Texas County With Low Vaccination Rate Multiplies, More Cases ‘Likely’

    Measles is ripping through Gaines County, Texas—cases have more than tripled, and health officials warn the worst is yet to come. The highly contagious virus is spreading fast, with more infections “likely” in the days ahead.

    The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) confirmed 48 cases as of this week, up from just 14 last Friday.

    “Thirteen of the patients have been hospitalized,” the agency stated in a press release. All of the cases involve individuals who are either unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown.

    “The best way to prevent getting sick is to be immunized with two doses of a vaccine against measles,” DSHS advised. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is 97% effective at preventing infection.

    Health officials attribute the outbreak to low vaccination rates. Only 82% of kindergartners in Gaines County public schools are up to date on their shots, well below the 95% threshold required for herd immunity. The county also has an 18% exemption rate for vaccines due to religious or personal beliefs.

    “We’re trying to get out the message about how important vaccination is,” Zach Holbrooks, executive director of the South Plains Public Health District told CNN. He stressed those exposed or symptomatic should get tested at the mobile screening unit in Seminole, Texas.

    “Measles is a serious yet preventable disease,” added Dr. Jamie Felberg of the South Plains Public Health District. “Staying up to date on vaccinations is the most effective way to safeguard yourself, your loved ones, and the community.”

    “Additional cases are likely to occur in Gaines County and the surrounding communities,” DSHS warned.

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