With the U.S. CDC reissuing a Global Measles Travel Advisory for 57 countries in February 2025, public health leaders are concerned that unvaccinated travelers may bring this highly infectious disease into Texas schools.
Following the city’s first confirmed measles cases since 2018, Houston Public Health issued an alert in February 2025, encouraging everyone to ensure their protection, and launched vaccination campaigns.
A real-time example of this risk is the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, which welcomes tens of thousands of out-of-town visitors to Texas daily. This family-friendly event enhances the lives of young people each March, but it could become a disease hot spot for unvaccinated children.
Houston Public Media recently reported that a few private schools in the Houston area are among the Texas institutions with the lowest measles vaccination rates, according to data compiled by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS).
Immunization data from more than 1,600 surveyed public and private schools in Texas shows that 50% or fewer kindergarteners in some private schools in Harris and Montgomery counties were vaccinated for measles during the 2023-24 school year.
As of March 7, 2025, Houston Public Media found that about 36% of kindergarteners at the Acton Leadership Academy of Magnolia were vaccinated for measles in 2023-24.
Acton Leadership Academy of Creekside, located in Spring, also had a 50% measles vaccination rate in its kindergarten class.
Positive data exists across the state: About 92% of kindergarteners at 1,680 surveyed Texas public and private schools were immunized for measles during the 2023-24 school year.
However, in Texas, vaccination exemptions are approved for two reasons: if a physician states the vaccine could pose a health risk to the student, or if the student’s parents have a religious or personal belief that opposes getting vaccinated.
As of March 11, 2025, DSHS and the CDC encourage most people to get two doses of the MMR vaccine, which are generally available at health clinics and pharmacies throughout Texas.
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