The debate over vaccine requirements in Texas has intensified in recent years, shifting from a once-marginalized movement to a significant political issue.
Groups like Texans for Vaccine Choice, led by speech pathologist Rebecca Hardy, have gained influence among lawmakers, advocating for parental rights over mandatory vaccinations.
While vaccine hesitancy existed long before COVID-19, the pandemic accelerated the movement, leading to a wave of new legislation aimed at easing vaccine exemptions and limiting mandates.
At the same time, health officials warn that declining vaccination rates could lead to a resurgence of preventable diseases, putting public health at risk.
The Rise of Vaccine Choice Advocacy in Texas
Rebecca Hardy founded Texans for Vaccine Choice in 2014 to push back against vaccine mandates. Initially, it was difficult to find lawmakers willing to support legislation that allowed more parental control over vaccinations.
Hardy recalls that before COVID-19, discussing vaccine choice at the Texas Capitol required discretion. However, after the pandemic and the pushback against mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations in workplaces, her organization gained political momentum.
Today, vaccine-related legislation is being introduced primarily by Republicans, with many proposals seeking to expand exemptions and limit state and employer mandates.
New Vaccine-Related Bills in the Texas Legislature
Over 20 vaccine-related bills have been filed in Texas for the current legislative session, many of which are supported by Texans for Vaccine Choice. These bills include proposals to:
- Make it easier for parents to opt out of childhood vaccinations
- Prevent denial of medical care based on vaccination status
- Restrict vaccine mandates across workplaces and schools
- Require the Texas Legislature to approve any new school vaccination requirements
- Increase transparency about potential vaccine side effects through a national reporting system
Hardy insists that her group is not anti-vaccine but rather pro-choice when it comes to medical decisions. She emphasizes that the goal is not to dismantle vaccine programs but to ensure that parents and individuals retain control over their medical choices.
The Public Health Perspective: Concerns Over Declining Vaccination Rates
While vaccine choice advocacy is gaining ground, health officials and medical experts are raising alarms about the potential consequences.
The Texas Hospital Association warns that vaccine hesitancy could lead to increased disease outbreaks, longer hospital wait times, and workforce shortages.
A 2023 study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that vaccines have saved the U.S. over $540 billion in medical costs since 1994 and prevented more than 1.1 million deaths.
Despite this, vaccine exemptions in Texas are on the rise, which public health experts say could put entire communities at risk.
Texas’ Vaccine Exemption Process and Proposed Changes
Texas law currently requires children to be vaccinated to attend school or daycare. However, exemptions can be granted for medical, religious, or personal reasons.
At present, parents seeking exemptions must request a notarized affidavit from the Texas Department of State Health Services, which can take up to three weeks to process. Vaccine choice advocates argue that this process is inefficient and are pushing for downloadable exemption forms.
Several bills, including House Bill 1082, House Bill 1586, and House Bill 730, aim to make vaccine exemption requests more accessible by eliminating notarization and streamlining the process.
Additionally, some proposals seek to prevent medical providers from refusing treatment to unvaccinated individuals. Supporters argue that individuals should not be denied medical care based on their vaccine status.
Texas’ Shift in Vaccine Policy After COVID-19
Texas has seen a major political shift in vaccine policy since the pandemic. In 2023, Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 7, which bans private employers from requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for employees. Businesses that violate the law face a $50,000 fine.
That same year, House Bill 44 was passed, preventing Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) providers from denying services based on a patient’s vaccination status.
Hardy views these legislative victories as just the beginning, believing that vaccine choice advocacy will continue to expand in Texas.
Growing Vaccine Exemptions in Texas Schools
Since 2018, the number of vaccine exemption requests in Texas has more than doubled, rising from 45,900 to over 93,000 in 2024.
In the 2023-24 school year, more than 13,000 Texas kindergarteners had non-medical exemptions from at least one vaccine, doubling the figure from a decade ago.
While Texas does not have the highest exemption rates in the country, it leads the nation in the total number of exemptions.
Despite this trend, the majority of Texas children are still vaccinated. Over 90% of kindergarten and 7th-grade students have received all required immunizations.
Concerns Over Potential Disease Resurgence
Health officials worry that increasing vaccine exemptions could lead to outbreaks of preventable diseases.
Dr. Peter Hotez, a leading vaccine expert, warns that hesitancy around the COVID-19 vaccine may be spilling over into routine childhood immunizations.
He believes Texas could become a hotspot for future disease outbreaks if vaccination rates continue to decline.
Already, cases of preventable diseases are on the rise:
- Whooping cough cases have returned to pre-pandemic levels
- Measles, which was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, has resurfaced through international travel
- Polio was detected in New York State wastewater in 2022, raising concerns about its potential comeback
Hotez fears that vaccine skepticism could “unravel our whole pediatric vaccine ecosystem” if exemption rates continue to rise.
The Legislative Battle Ahead
As vaccine choice advocates push for more exemptions, public health groups are preparing for a tough legislative session.
Terri Burke, head of The Immunization Partnership, worries that vaccine policies could be gradually weakened through incremental legal changes.
She believes the Texas Legislature will continue chipping away at vaccine mandates, similar to how issues like abortion and border policies have evolved over time.
Her organization is actively opposing bills that could loosen vaccine requirements and increase the administrative burden on healthcare providers. She expects a difficult fight ahead, stating, “It’s going to be tough. It’s really going to be tough.”
The Role of Vaccine Transparency and Reporting
Some proposed legislation focuses on vaccine transparency, particularly related to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS).
This database collects self-reported health issues that occur after vaccination, though experts caution that reports do not necessarily prove a vaccine caused the adverse event.
State Senator Charles Perry, who declined the COVID-19 vaccine on his doctor’s advice, has introduced Senate Bill 269, which seeks greater transparency in vaccine reporting.
He argues that the rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines left many Texans without enough information to assess their risks properly.
Perry hopes that if Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is confirmed as the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, he will implement a more transparent vaccine oversight system.
The vaccine debate in Texas is at a crossroads. While vaccine choice advocates have gained momentum, public health experts warn that growing exemptions could lead to disease outbreaks and strain the healthcare system.
With over 20 vaccine-related bills under consideration, the 2024 Texas legislative session will be a battleground between those advocating for personal choice and those prioritizing public health protections. The outcome could shape Texas’ approach to vaccination policies for years to come.