Millions of Texas students will head back to school next week – at the same time the number of measles cases in the U.S. is higher than it’s been in 30 years. Doctors and public health officials are urging parents and guardians to ensure their children are up to date on vaccinations ahead of the new school year.
Dr. Jason Terk, a pediatrician in North Texas and a member of the Texas Medical Association said more people are choosing to go without vaccinations. As a result, he said there are more frequent and broader outbreaks of deadly and contagious diseases that are easily preventable.
“We, as pediatricians, want parents to understand that vaccines, probably second only to modern sanitation, are the most important thing that we’ve done in public health at preventing deaths and preventing serious illnesses,” Terk said…