Dozens of free measles vaccination clinics across Texas have been abruptly canceled, as steep federal funding cuts hit local public health operations.
In Dallas County, over 50 planned clinics-many scheduled for schools in areas with low immunization rates-have been scrapped, according to Dr. Philip Huang, director and health authority for the Dallas County Health and Human Services Department.
He told a Dallas County Commissioners Court meeting that the cuts also forced the layoff of 21 public health workers, further weakening local response efforts as the state grapples with a growing measles outbreak.
Why It Matters
The canceled clinics arrive at a critical moment for Texas, which has reported 422 measles cases since January, according to the Texas Department of State Health Service…