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Hidalgo County health official praises Edinburg CISD vaccination gains, urges focus on student mental health
Summary
Hidalgo County Health Authority Doctor Melendez told the Edinburg CISD board that district vaccination rates have climbed — seventh‑grade coverage rose from about 83% to about 98% — and urged trustees to prioritize mental‑health resources amid workforce shortfalls and high local fentanyl deaths.
Doctor Melendez, Hidalgo County’s public‑health authority, told the Edinburg CISD Board of Trustees on Oct. 24 that the district has made large gains in student vaccinations and faces urgent mental‑health needs.
“We’re very proud of the work that you’re doing,” Doctor Melendez said, noting seventh‑grade vaccination coverage rose from about 83% in 2023–24 to roughly 98% and that the district’s overall immunization rate was near 95.73 percent. He said the county has run 14 vaccine clinics in 2025 and credited district outreach and clinic coordination for the gains.
Why it matters: High vaccination coverage reduces the chance of outbreaks that would disrupt schools. Melendez told trustees that, while infectious‑disease monitoring remains important, the county’s most pressing gap is behavioral health — both the scarcity of clinicians and the toll of substance‑use deaths in South Texas.
Melendez warned the board that the county health department faces staffing losses if federal matching funds and grants lapse and said many residents remain underinsured or uninsured, which limits access to timely care. He recommended that the district leverage its school‑family footprint to identify students in need and expand early interventions and culturally appropriate outreach.
Board reaction and questions: Trustees thanked Melendez and asked for data by school; Melendez said the health department keeps vaccination records by school and district and can provide those breakdowns on request. He emphasized practical supports — school nurses, teacher training to spot at‑risk students, and programs that connect families to services — rather than one‑time funding alone.
What’s next: Melendez said the county stands ready to collaborate on clinics and requested the district contact the health department at the first sign of clusters or other health concerns.
(Reporting is based on Doctor Melendez’s presentation to the board and the Q&A that followed.)
