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Measles Outbreak Strikes Texas: Vaccination Rates Plummet

9/19/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Experts noted that vaccine success before the Covid pandemic led to complacency regarding diseases like polio and measles.
A major measles outbreak in the U.S. in 2025 infected hundreds and resulted in two deaths in Texas.
Texas's kindergartner vaccination rate fell to 93.2% in 2024-2025, below the 95% herd immunity threshold.
Loosened vaccination laws nearly doubled the number of unvaccinated kindergartners over five years.
Approximately 25,000 kindergartners in Texas were unvaccinated for measles at the outbreak's onset.

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Story summary

Experts noted that vaccine success before the Covid pandemic led to complacency regarding diseases like polio and measles.
A major measles outbreak in the U.S. in 2025 infected hundreds and resulted in two deaths in Texas.
Texas's kindergartner vaccination rate fell to 93.2% in 2024-2025, below the 95% herd immunity threshold.
Loosened vaccination laws nearly doubled the number of unvaccinated kindergartners over five years.
Approximately 25,000 kindergartners in Texas were unvaccinated for measles at the outbreak's onset.