Though public health officials assert that vaccination is safe and profoundly beneficial for the health of student populations — studies from medical experts and the CDC show no link between vaccination and autism, for instance — Texas vaccination opponents worry about the safety of the state’s 11 immunization requirements.
While the 45,000 unvaccinated children that will attend school in Texas this year are not reportedly enough to threaten herd immunity, Anna C. Dragsbaek, president and CEO of The Immunization Partnership, a pro-vaccine group, told the Chronicle pockets of unvaccinated children could leave populations of students vulnerable to infections, particularly those who are either too young to be vaccinated or cannot be vaccinated due to medical reasons.
Renascent outbreaks of the measles, mumps and whooping cough have led to growing concern across the nation regarding the rates of unvaccinated students. A recent California law designed to bolster immunization requirements for school children inspired three lawsuits from vaccine opponents.
Texas is one of 18 states to allow vaccination exemptions among school children for nonmedical reasons. Only three states prohibit parents from opting out of required vaccinations for religious or personal beliefs: West Virginia, Mississippi and — with the passage of the new law — California.
More articles on infection control:
New study identifies why MRSA kills flu patients
Top 10 infection control stories, Aug. 8-12
Florida swimmer hospitalized with brain-eating amoeba
