Texas eyes immunizations as more kids file exemptions
AUSTIN, Texas — Texas could host the nation’s next major fight over stricter requirements for immunizations as its rates of schoolchildren who refuse to get shots for non-medical reasons rises.
The number of Texas kindergarten through 12th grade students who reported filing conscientious exemptions for at least one immunization last school year increased 19-fold since 2003. It’s still less than 1 percent of enrolled students.
Texas and 17 states allow philosophical exemptions to vaccines.