Just over a year after Texas experienced a historic measles outbreak, vaccination rates for some students are beginning to tick upward.

The outbreak began in Gaines County in West Texas in 2025 and claimed multiple lives, including children. Since then, the vaccination rate for kindergarten students has seen a slight increase, according to reporting by The Texas Tribune.

For local doctor Eric Baggerman, news of the outbreak’s impact was difficult to hear.

“I was speaking with some folks about it, and that is when they let me know that the first child had died,” he said.

While Baggerman views the increase in vaccination rates as a positive development, he believes more progress is needed.

“If this outbreak raised enough awareness to increase the rates of vaccines, that’s great. I don’t want to have to see anyone die just to bring up the need for vaccines,” he said.

Not everyone views vaccinations through the same lens.

Carrie Bigford with Texans for Vaccine Choice said there are several reasons some families may be hesitant about vaccinations.

“A lack of trust in the vaccine program after COVID, that’s another really common thing. People are disenfranchised by that program,” she said.

Bigford also said she wants to address what she considers a common misconception about her organization.

“We are not an anti-vax organization. We support your right as the owner of the body or the steward of your child’s body to choose,” she said.

She said decisions about vaccinations are often more nuanced than many people realize.

“You can be a person who chooses to get a lot of vaccines, but there can be one vaccine that doesn’t fit your family. Maybe their child had a mild reaction, so they’re waiting 6 to 12 months to vaccinate. There are so many reasons why someone might want to have a more nuanced discussion,” she said.

Although they approach the issue from different perspectives, both Bigford and Baggerman said education is essential.

Both believe parents should thoroughly research the topic and make the decision they believe is best for their family.