When it comes to getting our kids vaccinated, Texas brings up the rear, according to a new report, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
The study was written by Dr. Peter Hotez, a world-respected epidemiologist at the Baylor College of Medicine, says says it has shown that in some Texas schools as many as one third of all students have not received the recommended and required vaccinations.
"We've had a twenty-fold increase in the number of non-medial vaccine exemptions, for what is called 'personal belief'," Dr. Hotez told News Radio 1200 WOAI's Michael Board.
Despite all scientific evidence to the contrary, the so called 'anti-vaxxer' movement, which claims that common childhood vaccines are responsible mainly for autism but other diseases as well, is clearly growing. The movement is driven by several high profile documentaries, and by increasingly outspoken public officials, like Bexar County District Attorney Nico LaHood.
One of the platform planks being considered by the Texas Republican Party is one that would require schools to inform parents of their ability to skip the 'no shots no school' rules now in place in most districts.
Dr. Hotez says Texas has some of the most liberal laws in the country when it comes to allowing parents to simply 'opt out' of mandatory vaccinations.
"I am quite worried that at any point we could start seeing terrible measles outbreaks in Texas, just like we saw in Minnesota last year and in Missouri earlier this year," he said.