Texas is experiencing a significant measles outbreak, with 762 reported cases. According to the Texas Medical Association (TMA), more than 94% of those affected were not vaccinated against the disease.
Lindy McGee, MD, chair of the TMA Committee on Child and Adolescent Health and a Houston pediatrician, said, “Giving your child a vaccine is an act of love. It’s one of the simplest, safest ways to protect them from serious harm.”
The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is required for children attending public schools in Texas. Exemptions are allowed for reasons of conscience or medical contraindications. Doctors state that receiving both doses of the MMR vaccine provides about 97% effectiveness against measles. The Texas Department of State Health Services recommends the first dose between 12 and 15 months old and the second at ages 4 to 6.
A list of other required vaccines by school grade level is also available from state health authorities. Vaccinating eligible children helps protect not only themselves but also individuals who cannot be vaccinated or have weakened immune systems.
“When we’re thinking about vaccinating, we are also thinking about protecting a newborn baby or a child who has acute leukemia and is undergoing treatment and their immune system isn’t working well,” Dr. McGee said.
The TMA Foundation provides grants supporting vaccination efforts through its Vaccines Defend What Matters initiative, which funds education and community outreach across Texas.
One grant recipient is Lirios Pediatrics in Austin, a free clinic serving uninsured children by hosting back-to-school immunization clinics. Claire Hebner, MD, co-founder and medical director at Lirios Pediatrics, noted that most families they serve want their children vaccinated: “Our [patient] population wants to go to school, and they have oftentimes seen diseases these vaccines prevent, so they want their children to be healthy,” she said.
Dr. McGee recalled witnessing severe illness before certain vaccines became available: “Seared in my brain is a moment from residency where I watched a teenager suffer with meningococcal disease,” she said. She described how quickly the disease can progress even with intensive care support. The meningococcal vaccine can prevent most bacterial meningococcal disease.
Both Drs. Hebner and McGee emphasize that vaccination remains the best way for children to stay healthy.
“I’ve been a pediatrician for 25 years. The biggest thing I can do to protect and promote health in kids is vaccinate. There’s nothing that’s more effective,” Dr. Hebner stated.
Dr. McGee added: “I went into pediatrics because I am passionate about disease prevention … I would prefer to prevent rather than treat these terrible diseases and not see families suffer when their children are sick.” She called vaccines “the most effective way” to defend against diseases.
The TMA’s Vaccines Defend What Matters webpage offers additional information for parents regarding vaccinations.
