Public health officials said some parents are confused about what vaccines are required to attend Texas schools amid efforts to change recommendations.
While vaccine requirements have not changed for Texas students this year — despite federal efforts to drop and space out some inoculations — Becca Harkleroad understands how many parents are confused.
“Despite all the confusion that hits the news … nothing’s changed,” said Harkleroad, the executive director of the Texas School Nurses Organization.
In January, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention dropped the rotavirus, COVID-19, influenza, hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccines from the recommended list. But a federal judge in Massachusetts — and a Biden appointee — halted that move in March, keeping the pre-2026 vaccine recommendations in place. The federal government is appealing that decision.
Then on Monday, President Donald Trump ordered the splitting up of the common measles, mumps and rubella vaccine into three separate shots. The three have been combined into a single shot since 1971 to help ensure children do not delay or miss doses and after hearing from parents who wanted to reduce the number of doctor visits needed to complete vaccinations.
But because each state, including Texas, is able to set up its own recommendations, Trump’s move serves as a guideline, not a mandate, the Texas Department of State Health Services confirmed.
According to the state’s health department, nothing has changed for the 2026-2027 school year.
Any changes to Texas’ requirements would have to be made by the Legislature which will meet again in January, according to the state health agency. The Republican-controlled state Legislature has generally embraced policies that weaken vaccine mandates, including last year’s passage of a bill that made vaccine exemption forms more accessible to parents.
“Nothing has changed for vaccine requirements in Texas at this time,” Harkleroad said after Trump’s action. “It’s very concerning to me that the president’s executive order raised the age-old questions about vaccines — their safety, efficacy, and the autism link. That science is settled.”
Rebecca Hardy, president of Texans for Vaccine Choice, praised Trump’s decision.
“TFVC applauds Trump’s EO that moves federal vaccine policy toward greater informed consent and vaccine safety, but Texas law still needs to change,” she said, adding that it’s not her group’s priority to continue “chasing an ever-changing vaccine schedule.”
Source: and , The Texas Tribune
Photo Credit: Vaccine doses get prepared at a COVID-19 vaccination site at the University of Texas at Austin on Aug. 25, 2021. Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune
The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.
