Texas Launches Downloadable School Vaccine Exemption Forms

Texas has implemented a new law, House Bill 1586, allowing parents to download vaccine exemption forms online to exempt their children from school-required vaccinations, replacing the previous mail-in system that caused delays. This change aims to give parents quicker access and greater control over exemption requests, which have more than doubled in recent years. The law comes shortly after a severe measles outbreak in Texas, where 762 people were infected and two unvaccinated children died, highlighting public health concerns amid rising exemption rates. While the exemption process has been simplified, health officials emphasize the importance of vaccinations to prevent disease spread in schools and communities. The downloadable form requires notarization and can be used for two years, and the Texas Department of State Health Services has also provided information on vaccine benefits and risks. Critics worry that easier exemptions could negatively impact vaccination rates, especially since Texas has the highest number of kindergarteners not fully vaccinated against measles nationwide.