TARRANT COUNTY, Texas — Tarrant County Public Health officials are keeping a close eye on MMR vaccination rates after a recent measles outbreak among children in Ohio.
“The main message for parents is measles can be serious,” Tarrant County Public Health Epidemiology Division Manager Russ Jones said. “If we have an introduction -- not saying we will -- but we're vulnerable in some places to having a measles outbreak.”
State data shows some Tarrant County schools have low MMR vaccination rates. MMR stands for measles, mumps, and rubella.
“Most of the time you're not allowed to start school until you get that vaccine, but the last two-and-a-half going on three years has been different,” Jones said.
Jones told WFAA kids should have the two required MMR shots by the time they start kindergarten.
The state’s data looks at the percentage of kindergartners who are vaccinated against MMR. According to Jones, 98% is the target.
Below is state data for independent school districts in Tarrant County for the 2021-2022 school year:
- Aledo ISD – 94.84%
- Arlington ISD – 92.47%
- Azle ISD – 95.71%
- Birdville ISD – 95.59%
- Burleson ISD – 95.08%
- Carroll ISD – 95.68%
- Castleberry ISD – 98.53%
- Crowley ISD – 91.02%
- Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD – 96.49%
- Everman ISD – 76.54%
- Fort Worth ISD – 86.16%
- Godley ISD – 93.30%
- Grapevine-Colleyville ISD – 95.55%
- Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD – 96.25%
- Keller ISD – 94.64%
- Kennedale ISD – 94.32%
- Lake Worth ISD – 96.53%
- Mansfield ISD – 96.23%
- Northwest ISD – 94.88%
- White Settlement ISD - 95.82%
Want to look up your kids’ school? Click here.
“Vaccine hesitancy or just not being able to do it during the COVID pandemic is a concern,” Jones said. “Some people can get an exemption based on religious beliefs.”
In fact, CDC data shows vaccination rates for U.S. kindergarteners dropped again last year, too.
Tarrant County’s last measles outbreak was in 2013 with 21 cases, according to Jones. It did not take place in school, he added.
“We need to do a better job of promoting the vaccine among people who have young kids,” Jones said.
Want to get your kid the MMR vaccine? Tarrant County Public Health has six health department clinics are open Monday through Friday. For more information, click here.