Houston, Harris County urge MMR vaccinations as West Texas measles outbreak grows

Harris County Judge and the mayor of Houston on a joint press briefing urged residents to get MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccinations and to check vaccination status after a West Texas measles outbreak expanded rapidly in late January and February. Officials said Houston and Harris County have detected no active cases so far and described targeted steps — including wastewater surveillance, mobile clinics and school-focused outreach — to prevent local spread.

Why it matters: Measles is highly contagious and can cause serious illness. Health officials told reporters the recent outbreak in West Texas grew from two travel-related cases to about 168 cases across nine Texas counties and one county in New Mexico within a month, and they warned that pockets of low vaccination coverage can allow the virus to spread.

“We have no active cases right now,” the Harris County Judge said, urging vaccination and vigilance. The mayor of Houston added: “The remedy is being vaccinated.”

Steve Williams, director of the Houston Health Department, described the city’s surveillance and prevention work. “We currently monitor 36 wastewater treatment facilities and 48 manholes for measles,” Williams said, and officials plan to expand testing to schools with low vaccination rates, several shelters, nursing homes and two jails. Williams said health officials have notified exposed groups, issued health advisories and provided education to clinicians after finding measles in a wastewater sample that matched travel-related cases in West Texas.

Public and private providers outlined the vaccination push. Dr. Sabna Singh, chief medical officer for Texas Children’s Pediatrics, said Texas Children’s will offer MMR vaccines and mobile clinics starting Saturday, March 8, and again on March 15 at the Texas Children’s Pediatrics Westwood location, with hours and appointment details available online. Dr. Tamisha Jones, interim chief medical officer at Legacy Community Health, said Legacy will hold vaccination events March 8 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at two large clinics — one in Southwest Houston (6441 High Star) and the Lions Clinic in the Fifth Ward (3811 Lyons Avenue) — and emphasized the clinics will serve Medicaid, uninsured and underinsured patients.

Experts reiterated vaccine effectiveness and safety. “A single dose is 90% protective, and two doses is 97% protective,” Dr. Hotez said, describing the MMR vaccine as safe and highly effective. Local physicians noted that most people who contract measles in the current outbreak were unvaccinated or of unknown vaccination status.

Pediatricians addressed infants and other vulnerable groups. Children younger than 6 months generally cannot receive the routine MMR vaccine, and physicians advised that families with infants avoid crowded settings and delay nonessential international travel. For children 12 months and older and adults unsure of their status, providers recommended vaccination rather than waiting for blood testing.

Officials emphasized equitable access and support services. The county and city said they are coordinating with local providers, Texas Vaccine for Children sites and safety-net clinics to expand walk-in hours, reduce fees and place mobile clinics in areas identified by immunization registry data as having lower coverage. Officials said messaging and materials will be available in multiple languages, and that vaccines at the announced clinic events will be free.

How to get care and information: The Houston Health Department listed a provider line for clinicians (832-393-5188) and a public call center (832-393-5427) and directed residents to houstonhealth.org and readyharris.org for maps, clinic locations and resources. Officials said vaccine supplies can be requested from state and federal sources if local clinics need resupply.

What officials did not decide or do: There were no formal orders, mandates or closures announced at the briefing. Officials described outreach, testing and vaccination activities and said they are coordinating with state partners; they also said they had not (as of the briefing) engaged directly with CDC representatives on the response, though vaccine distribution channels are in place.

The briefing closed with a renewed call to vaccination: officials said keeping Houston’s vaccination coverage high would reduce the risk of local spread and protect infants and medically vulnerable residents.