Low Vaccine Rates Blamed for West Texas Measles Surge

February 11, 2025 – In late January 2025, health officials in Gaines County, West Texas, reported an outbreak of measles, with 15 confirmed cases predominantly among school-aged children. Gaines County is noted for its high rate of vaccine exemptions; nearly 1 in 5 incoming kindergartners in the 2023-24 school year had not received the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine.

The initial cases were identified in unvaccinated children, some of whom attended private religious schools. The outbreak has led to hospitalizations, underscoring the severity of the disease.

In response, local health authorities have established a drive-through vaccination clinic and are offering screening services to curb the spread. The Texas Department of State Health Services emphasizes that the MMR vaccine, if administered within 72 hours of initial measles exposure, may provide some protection or modify the clinical course of the disease among susceptible persons.

This outbreak highlights a broader concern: declining vaccination rates since the COVID-19 pandemic. Statewide, the measles vaccination rate among kindergarteners has dropped from 97% in the 2019-20 school year to 94.3% in 2023-24. Concurrently, vaccine exemption requests in Texas have doubled from 45,900 in 2018 to 93,000 in 2024.

The situation in Gaines County serves as a stark reminder of the importance of maintaining high vaccination rates to prevent outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases.