December 7, 2016      1:42 PM

Now is the time for Texas lawmakers to boost vaccination rates, advocates argue

“We have an opportunity right here and now to fight preventable diseases and improve the health of Texas children and families.”

Hoping to reverse the trend of more and more Texans deciding against basic vaccinations for their children – a trend fueled by junk science and conspiracy theories not unlike the one blamed for a man being arrested with a gun at a Washington pizza restaurant – advocates in Texas are presenting lawmakers with recommendations for how to combat the problem.

A new report from the Immunization Partnership was being delivered at Texas Capitol offices throughout the day on Wednesday as a fight over vaccines brews once again inside the pink granite building.

While the vast majority of the state’s 5 million public school students are vaccinated, there has been a surge in those who have opted out for non-medical reasons. Since we’re talking about communicable diseases, that naturally puts the greater population at risk because of choices made by other people.  

About 45,000 students last year did not get their shots for non-medical reasons, which is a 9 percent increase over the previous year. That number has consequences. For example, right now there are 28 cases of mumps reported in Johnson County, just south of Fort Worth.

“Let there be no debate about the effectiveness of vaccines. They work,” said Rep. Sarah Davis, R-Houston, during a Capitol news conference hosted by the Immunization Partnership.

By Scott Braddock

Copyright December 07, 2016, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved