AUSTIN, Texas — As policy director for Texans for Vaccine Choice, Michelle Evans sees Texas as a beacon for people searching for medical freedom.
“I think that the concern is whether or not we can continue to be that beacon for these people,” said Evans.
What You Need To Know
Inspired by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the number of vaccine skeptics is growing, as about 1,000 anti-vaxxers met in Austin last weekend to plan the future of their movement
In the last year, advocates who want less government in health care and in vaccine decisions worked with lawmakers and doctors to decrease barriers to vaccine exemptions
A new law from state Rep. Lacey Hull, R-Houston, makes it easier for parents to opt their kids out of school-required vaccines by putting the exemption form on the Texas Department of State Health Services’ (DSHS) website
The rate of kindergartners without their measles immunizations has doubled since the pandemic started; over 3% have a conscientious exemption
Inspired by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the number of vaccine skeptics is growing, as about 1,000 anti-vaxxers met in Austin last weekend to plan the future of their movement. In the last year, advocates who want less government in health care and in vaccine decisions worked with lawmakers and doctors to decrease barriers to vaccine exemptions.
“It shouldn’t just be assumed that a parent is going to fall in step with the CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] schedule,” said Evans.
But there is significant medical evidence that vaccines work. For example, a single measles shot is 93% effective.
A new law from state Rep. Lacey Hull, R-Houston, makes it easier for parents to opt their kids out of school-required vaccines by putting the exemption form on the Texas Department of State Health Services’ (DSHS) website.
Hull said in a statement sent to Spectrum News on the enactment of the new law, “I appreciate DSHS developing and posting online the printable affidavit form as required by the new law so that Texas families can enroll their children in school in a timely manner, guaranteeing their fundamental right to an education, while also reducing big government overreach and unnecessary spending on staff, printing, and mailing costs to the state.”
The rate of kindergartners without their measles immunizations has doubled since the pandemic started; over 3% have a conscientious exemption.
“We’re seeing it increase every single year, which means that each one of those children are potentially vulnerable to a vaccine-preventable disease,” said Rekha Lakshmanan, chief strategy officer for the Immunization Partnership.
A measles outbreak hit West Texas during the first half of the year, resulting in the deaths of two unvaccinated kids. Those who support the benefits of vaccinations are concerned that as the number of unvaccinated kids grows, herd immunity will be lost and put more children in jeopardy.
“A small but very vocal group of individuals and activists who really are trying to take away, you know, the vast majority of parents’ rights to have easy access to vaccines and to those who do want to protect their children through immunization,” said Lakshmanan.
A ballot proposition for the March Republican primary, if passed, would make ending health care discrimination a party priority.
“Our statute currently says that health care facilities may accept religious exemptions, but it doesn’t say they shall,” said Evans. “So many of these hospital systems, specifically ones that partner with our universities for students to do their clinical rotations are using that one word to deny these kids an opportunity to complete their degree program.”
The ultimate goal of anti-vaxxers is for parents to call the shots.