Rebecca Hardy, a speech pathologist, vividly remembers her engagement with lawmakers during the 2015 state legislative session, where advocating for more vaccination options for Texans proved challenging. With the foundation of Texans For Vaccine Choice in 2014, she ventured to Austin to seek legislative support for policies that empower parents to determine the timing and necessity of vaccinations for their children instead of leaving such decisions solely to the government. Hardy reflects on the early days of her advocacy, noting how difficult it was to find legislators willing to sponsor protective legislation surrounding vaccine mandates.
The scenario has dramatically transformed as a result of the global pandemic. Now, Hardy’s organization, along with similar groups promoting vaccine hesitancy and opposition, finds itself with the attention of state lawmakers, especially following their successful initiatives against mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations in workplace settings in 2023. This shift is noteworthy; while vaccine bills aimed at promoting vaccination were predominantly filed by Democrats a decade ago, it’s now Republican lawmakers who lead the charge to diminish vaccine mandates. One notable proposal is a joint resolution in the House that seeks to amend the Texas Constitution, guaranteeing Texans the right to refuse vaccinations.
Hardy’s organization has supported the drafting of over 20 bills aimed at enhancing vaccine choice, many of which were submitted prior to the start of this month’s legislative session. These proposals include provisions that would simplify the process for parents wishing to opt out of vaccinations, ensure medical care is not denied based on vaccination status, prevent blanket vaccine mandates, and grant the Texas Legislature final say on new vaccination requirements in schools. Additional measures are focused on increasing regulations surrounding COVID-19 vaccinations and promoting transparency concerning the tracking of vaccine side effects.
“Texans For Vaccine Choice is not an anti-vaccine organization,” Hardy clarifies. “We aim to ensure families have a choice in how to handle medical care, including vaccinations.” This principle is increasingly resonating with the public, particularly in light of political events, such as former President Donald Trump’s re-election and his potential appointment of Robert F. Kennedy as the head of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This shift in public sentiment is concerning to health professionals, who point to research indicating that vaccines play a crucial role in saving lives and reducing healthcare costs.
A report released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control last summer highlighted that vaccinations for children born from 1994 to 2023 have saved the nation $540 billion by preventing illnesses, avoiding expensive hospitalizations, and averting over 1.1 million deaths. In contrast, the politicization of vaccines worries health care advocates. Carrie Williams, a spokesperson for the Texas Hospital Association, emphasizes that decisions regarding vaccine exemptions should be made with significant caution due to their potential impact on community health and healthcare accessibility.
Under Texas law, vaccinations are required for children to enroll in schools, daycare centers, and colleges, though exceptions can be made for military service, religious beliefs, or health concerns. Currently, parents seeking an exemption must request a notarized affidavit from the Texas Department of State Health Services—a cumbersome process that can take several weeks. Hardy advocates for a more efficient system, proposing that exemption forms be made available for download, which could be accomplished through several legislative measures currently under consideration.
The growing trend for vaccine exemption requests has been significant, with numbers nearly doubling from 45,900 in 2018 to over 93,000 in 2024. Lara Anton, a representative of the state health department, stated that all requests for exemptions are approved without gatekeeping. In the 2023-24 school year, over 13,000 kindergarteners in Texas had opted for non-medical exemptions, a stark increase compared to a decade ago, with Texas leading the country in exemption rates. Nevertheless, the majority of Texas children remain vaccinated, with over 90% of kindergarten and 7th-grade students receiving the required immunizations.
As the state navigates a post-lockdown landscape and the introduction of COVID-19 vaccines, attitudes toward vaccination mandates have shifted. Governor Greg Abbott’s earlier responses during the pandemic saw swift action against rising case numbers, but his current stance steers towards resistance against further mandates. This change reflects a growing public reluctance toward mandatory vaccination policies, alarming public health officials who view the influx of anti-vaccine legislation as a significant threat.
Organizations that advocate for vaccinations, such as The Immunization Partnership, are closely monitoring these developments. Terri Burke, the group’s leader, expresses concern that lawmakers may continue to erode vaccine mandates similarly to ongoing political debates surrounding access to abortion and immigration. The upcoming legislative session is expected to face rigorous challenges, including proposals aimed at simplifying the exemption process, potentially exacerbating public health crises if vaccination rates continue to decline.
Additionally, some proposed legislation is focused on the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, emphasizing greater physician accountability in reporting post-vaccination health concerns. Advocates like State Sen. Charles Perry call for enhanced transparency regarding vaccines, reflecting a cautious sentiment shared by many Texans regarding the rapid rollout of vaccines during the COVID-19 crisis.
Public health experts warn that the rising tide of vaccine hesitancy could have detrimental effects on overall vaccination rates, a concern echoed by professionals like Dr. Peter Hotez, who highlights the risks of insufficient immunization against preventable diseases. The trends noted among public attitudes could pave the way for potential outbreaks as diseases previously thought eradicated, such as measles and polio, make an alarming return. Hotez worries the decline in confidence in vaccines could unravel the entire framework of vaccinations for children, endangering public health overall.
