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The number of measles cases in Texas continues to rise. On Friday, the Texas Department of State Health Department reported 309 confirmed cases of measles. There are 40 patients hospitalized.
The West Texas outbreak has grown so much that the number of cases in Texas over the past three months has surpassed the 2024 CDC count of measles cases across the country.
One fact stands out – almost everyone infected with measles is not vaccinated.
Meanwhile, in New Mexico, where measles outbreaks are spreading, cases are much lower than in Texas. New Mexico has made it even more difficult to get a vaccine exemption and has a higher state vaccination rate.
Nevertheless, Texas lawmakers are considering a bill that will make it even easier to get vaccinated. All of these bills are supported by the Texans’ Political Action Committee for vaccine selection.
The organization is highly respected in a Republican circle, and was given special recognition as it is on the floor of the Texas House of Representatives on February 11th.
“This afternoon, I can celebrate, welcome and celebrate the vaccine choice in my 10 years of defense,” said Mitch, Republican, from the 65th district of East Texas. They did not lead the anti-vaccine PAC celebration.
“The Texans is a widely recognized organization now for the support and advocacy of our great state freedom-loving residents. Congratulate us on 10 years of service,” Little said.
As representatives were celebrating Texans with their vaccine choices, the West Texas measles outbreak was on track. It was February 6th that the Texas Department of Health issued a warning that there were six measles in Gaines County, West Texas. Three weeks later, DSHS reported that the outbreak had bloomed in a 6-year-old girl with 124 confirmed cases and one death. Additionally, the number of cases continues to rise due to the high number of vaccinations in the region.
“It’s irresponsible. The fact that (the Texans for vaccine choice) is in power is amazing,” said Terry Burke, director of the Immunization Partnership, a Houston-based pro-vaccine advocacy group. “I try not to think too much about the Texans when it comes to vaccine choices. What I’m thinking is lawmakers who are covered in bamboo by them.”
Burke said the Texans for Texan Selection is affecting the Texas Capitol halls with an agenda to end all vaccine requirements in the state.
“They are really small, very vocal small numbers of people, and it looks strong. It looks big and makes lawmakers scare. They ask them to sign a pledge that they will not mandate any kind of vaccine if they are elected,” she said.
Texan for vaccine selection did not respond to TPR’s request for comment. However, other interviews have denied that the group is anti-vaccine.
However, on its website, members post disinformation about the safety and efficacy of vaccinations. The website also hosts a podcast called “The Shot Caller,” which I recently agreed to with Dr. Mark Bailey on the platform. He says the vaccine won’t work and the virus isn’t real.
In a posted interview, Bailey said: “We’ve been studying the problems of viruses and the so-called bacteria-pathogens. It’s not really controversial. It’s very simple. It’s the problem of showing people that there’s no evidence of these things and never happened.”
Bailey’s view on the virus, particularly his claim that there is no virus, has been widely rejected by the scientific and medical community. His research contradicts decades of established research on microbiology, infectious diseases and epidemiology.
“It’s a moment of concern,” Dr. Suleman Lalani said. Sleman Lalani is also the Democrat representative of House District 76, which includes Fort Bend County, parts of Sugarland, the Richmond Meadows and Stafford areas.
Lalani said she is worried about how politics is masking proven science.
“I’m very worried and we’re looking at everything coming, and we’re looking at all the laws that come. This is trying to remove the vaccine requirements or create a waiver for it,” he said.
At least 20 Texan-supported bills have been introduced at the current legislative conference. It allows many people to make vaccine exemptions easier. Lalani said he will work with fellow lawmakers to try and prevent those bills from becoming law.
“So, as a doctor’s legislator, I can persuade science, bring science and tell my colleagues the facts, so they can understand what’s going on because there’s a lot of misinformation out there,” he said.
However, Professor Cal Zilson of SMU Politics said the Texans for vaccine choice have a lot of political power as they help determine winners and losers in the state’s Republican primary.
“The Republican majority in the Texas Legislature are very sensitive to a relatively small group of voters,” he said.
But Jilson said measles outrage in Texas could mean lawmakers are reconsidering their support for weakening vaccine requirements.
