The Texas measles outbreak has drawn renewed attention to declining vaccination rates nationwide, and Coloradans should be among the most concerned.

With some of the lowest kindergarten immunization rates in the country and a long-standing reluctance from elected leaders to act with a sense of urgency to create stronger immunization policies, our state is particularly vulnerable to a preventable public health crisis.

Despite pressing warnings from public health officials, attempts to strengthen Colorado’s vaccine policies have repeatedly stalled in the face of political opposition. In 2019, amid ongoing efforts to strengthen school-entry immunization requirements, Gov. Jared Polis took a strong stance against House Bill 19-1312, a bill aimed at modernizing vaccine exemption processes and reporting. When asked about the legislation, Polis expressed deep skepticism about government-mandated vaccine requirements, arguing that such measures “infringe on personal freedoms.” Polis’ indication that he would not sign HB-1312 into law would have almost certainly derailed the bill had it not died on the Senate floor before making it to the governor’s desk.

Read more at Colorado Newsline.

With measles cases rising nationwide and spring break travel approaching, Colorado health officials recommend people check their vaccination status ahead of any travel.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) shared new guidance last week following measles outbreaks across the United States, including in Texas, which has more than 100 cases so far.

“We are seeing a concerning increase in measles cases across the country, including in states neighboring Colorado,” said Dr. Rachel Herlihy, state epidemiologist at CDPHE. “As Coloradans prepare for spring break and travel, it’s crucial to ensure you and your family are protected against this highly contagious and serious disease.”

Read more at 9 News.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) is urging Coloradans to protect themselves with the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, especially as we head into spring break season.

Across the country, some communities are dealing with outbreaks. As of yesterday, 124 cases were reported in West Texas. The majority are among children, and the vast majority are unvaccinated. The Texas Department of State Health Services says that of the 124 cases, only 5 were vaccinated. A child from that community has died after a measles diagnosis, marking the first measles death in the U.S. in about a decade.

Kentucky has also announced a measles case, which is the first confirmed case in the state since 2023. However, health officials report they believe the patient contracted the virus while visiting abroad.

Read more at KRDO.

A child who wasn’t vaccinated died in a measles outbreak in rural West Texas, state officials said Wednesday, the first U.S. death from the highly contagious — but preventable — respiratory disease since 2015.

The school-aged child had been hospitalized and died Tuesday night amid the widespread outbreak, Texas’ largest in nearly 30 years. Since it began last month, a rash of 124 cases has erupted across nine counties.

The Texas Department of State Health Services and Lubbock health officials confirmed the death to The Associated Press. The child wasn’t identified but was treated at Covenant Children’s Hospital in Lubbock, though the facility noted the patient didn’t live in Lubbock County.

Read more at AP.

FDA abruptly cancels flu shot meeting. There are no plans to reschedule so far.

On Wednesday afternoon, members of the FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) learned that its upcoming meeting to determine which strains of influenza should be used in the 2025-2026 seasonal flu shot had been canceled.

One member of the committee, Dr. Paul Offit, confirmed the news and spoke to Inside Medicine. Here is a readout of our phone conversation, edited for clarity and flow:

Read more at Inside Medicine.

Thanks to successful vaccination campaigns, most Americans today have never experienced a measles outbreak. So when they see news that rural West Texas has recorded 90 cases within the past month, the largest spike in the state in nearly 30 years, they might not understand why it’s so alarming.

Here’s why: Measles is notoriously difficult to control. The virus is airborne and can linger in the air and on contaminated surfaces for up to two hours. It is so contagious that 9 out of 10 unvaccinated children who are in contact with an infected person will fall ill. This is why cases are expected to multiply in the coming weeks. An outbreak has already been declared in neighboring eastern New Mexico, where nine people have been diagnosed thus far.

Read more at The Washington Post.

The measles outbreak in rural West Texas has grown to 90 cases across seven counties, the state health department posted online Friday, and 16 people are hospitalized.

In neighboring eastern New Mexico, the measles case count is up to nine, though state public health officials said Thursday there’s still no evidence this outbreak is connected to the one in Texas.

Measles is a highly contagious disease. Here’s what you should know about how to protect yourself against measles, as well as what’s happening in Texas and New Mexico.

Read more at AP.

A measles outbreak in West Texas is continuing to spread. And with kindergarten vaccination rates dipping across the country, more communities may be at risk of outbreaks.

But it’s not just kids who should be vaccinated. Infectious disease experts say some adults may need to get revaccinated, too.

Measles can spread incredibly fast — it’s one of the world’s most contagious diseases, more than flu, polio, COVID, or just about any other infectious disease.

Read more at NPR.

Colleen Thomas’ son was born missing a part of his immune system. The Indiana mother didn’t know that immediately, but there were signs. The little boy was always sick — constant congestion and respiratory infections. Thomas had to hold a breathing mask over her son’s face as he slept and wheezed.

“That was just for a cold,” Thomas recalled. “It was horrible.”

Thomas’ son was 3-years old when he was diagnosed with an immunodeficiency that made him susceptible to severe illness if he was exposed to respiratory infections.

Read more at The 19th.

The Trump administration has directed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to indefinitely postpone a public meeting of its vaccine advisory panel, a key forum for the nation’s discussion of information about vaccine safety and effectiveness.

The decisioncame Thursday from officials at the Department of Health and Human Services, CDC’s parent agency, led by anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. who has long criticized the panel and the CDC.

Read more at The Washington Post.