Dallas County urges immunizations as measles outbreak grows in Texas; county clinics, weekend back-to-school events announced

Dallas County Health and Human Services briefed the Commissioners Court on Aug. 5 about immunization activities amid a multijurisdictional measles outbreak in Texas, and the court endorsed a resolution recognizing August as National Immunization Awareness Month. Philip Huang, director of Dallas County Health and Human Services, told the court the Texas Department of State Health Services had reported more than 750 confirmed measles cases in a West Texas outbreak as of June 24, and county staff warned that declining childhood-vaccination coverage nationally increases the risk of further spread. "It is crazy that in this day and age we're having to remind people about the importance of immunizations," Huang said, noting state funding shortfalls and cancelled community events because of cuts. DCHHS staff said the county runs eight immunization clinics and a back-to-school vaccination event planned for a weekend that would accept appointments and walk-ins; clinic central locations will offer extended evening hours on Wednesdays. Barbara Gonzales and other immunization staff asked commissioners to publicize the flyers; officials agreed to post social-media notices. At the same meeting commissioners also recognized the county—s broader public-health surveillance work, including wastewater monitoring for COVID-19 and routine tracking of West Nile, influenza and RSV. The court adopted the immunization-resolution unanimously; the resolution commends the preventive health division and encourages residents to update vaccine records.