Texas has closed dozens of free measles vaccination clinics due to steep federal funding cuts, leaving public health services struggling to combat the state’s growing measles outbreak.
Dr. Philip Huang, director of the Dallas County Health and Human Services Department, confirmed that over 50 planned clinics were canceled, including those in schools with low vaccination rates. The free clinics aimed to provide measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines to families.
The federal government recently cut $11.4 billion in pandemic-related funds originally allocated to community health efforts. These funds had been used for COVID-19 and measles prevention.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced it would no longer allocate funds to pandemic-related issues, drawing criticism from public health experts like Dr. Huang. He warned the cuts hinder efforts to combat emerging health threats, like measles.
While the exact financial impact on Dallas County is still being evaluated, Dr. Huang anticipates millions of dollars in cuts. As of now, the county has not reported any measles cases, but the cancellation of vaccine clinics raises concerns for future outbreaks.
In West Texas, which is the epicenter of the current outbreak, clinics continue to operate. Other states, including Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Ohio, are also reporting measles cases, signaling a growing national health concern.
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