Texas is in the middle of its worst measles outbreak in over 20 years—more than 700 cases, dozens hospitalized, two unvaccinated children dead. So, naturally, the Legislature looked at this public health disaster and said: What if we made it even easier not to vaccinate your kids? Because nothing solves an epidemic like a good ol’ dose of deregulation.
The new bill—already passed and sitting on Greg Abbott’s desk—would streamline vaccine exemptions by letting parents download the forms online instead of waiting for them by mail. That’s right: faster, easier, more convenient ways to skip measles, whooping cough, polio, and hepatitis shots. Vaccination rates already hover in the mid-90s percent, but exemption requests have nearly doubled since 2019. Why stop now when we can go for gold?
Supporters claim it’s about “government efficiency.” Critics call it what it is: an engraved invitation to the next outbreak. Experts warned lawmakers that loosening exemptions in the middle of an outbreak is like pouring gas on a fire, but hey, this is Texas—where politicians treat “canary in the coal mine” warnings as background noise.
All of this comes on the heels of a national wave of anti-vaccine laws, stoked by pandemic politics and turbocharged by RFK Jr.—yes, the anti-vax guy—now serving as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. Because when you want to protect kids, obviously you hire the guy who built a career convincing parents not to.
Two kids are dead, measles is spreading, and Texas lawmakers’ solution is to roll out the red carpet for the next preventable tragedy. Maybe they should skip the middleman and just hand out “Welcome Back, Polio!” bumper stickers at the Capitol.
