94% of Texas Children Protected From Measles

While the Texas Department of Health and Human Services (DSHS) has reported 317 measles cases this year, the state's overall vaccination rate is very positive.

As of March 22, 2025, Texas says, 'Texas schools have reported high coverage rates for each vaccine included in the survey.'

For example, the Texas Kindergarten Annual Report of Immunization Status for the School Year 2023-2024 shows 94.34% of children were vaccinated with the MMR vaccine.

In seventh grade, immunization coverage was above 95% for all vaccines except Tdap and meningococcal MCWY vaccines.

Furthermore, vaccinations appear to be increasing in Texas.

According to DSHS, about 173,000 MMR doses were administered in 2025, compared to at least 158,000 over the same timeframe last year. Media reporting indicates that MMR access has increased at national and community pharmacies as of March 2025.

An unanswered question is why the DSHS's unvaccinated/unknown category lists 307 people with no documented doses of measles vaccine more than 14 days before symptom onset when the state has an immunization registry.

Public health leaders would better understand this measles outbreak if this innovative technology were adequately utilized.

To inform everyone, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Health Advisory notifying clinicians, public health officials, and potential travelers to Texas about this year's measles outbreak.

The CDC recommends anyone visiting measles outbreak areas to protect against this highly transmissible virus.