Resources and tips for finding immunizations for children:

Navigating vaccines can feel overwhelming. Talk to your pediatrician.

• Schedule an appointment through Cook Children's.
• Find your nearest Texas Department of State Health service clinic for information on clinics.
• Call 211 for help.
• Call Tarrant County Public Health at 817-248-6299 to make an appointment or to find a walk-in clinic.
• Check with your local school district for vaccine events.

Raising a child brings up endless questions, especially when it comes to their health and well-being. As back-to-school season approaches, immunizations may be top of mind for families, and searching for clear, honest answers about what goes into their child's body and why. With so much conflicting information online, sorting facts from fear can feel overwhelming. Cook Children’s Health Care System helps parents and caregivers cut through the noise with trusted guidance from medical experts who are parents themselves.

Among the recommended shots, the Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine often raises questions.

Hospitalist Laura Romano, D.O., explains the key facts about HPV and the vaccine that prevents it.

What is HPV?

HPV is a viral infection that causes flesh-colored warts on certain mucous membranes, most commonly affecting the mouth, throat and genitals.

HPV infections can lead to cervical cancer in women, as well as head-and-neck and anal cancers in both men and women

Most people with HPV have no symptoms and don't realize they carry the virus, yet they can still pass it to others.

How can the disease be prevented?

Vaccinating older children and teenagers can provide lifelong protection against HPV and helps prevent several types of cancer as well.

What would you like families to know about the virus or the vaccine?

Vaccinating boys and girls offers lifelong protection against a virus that can cause warts but also against deadly cancers. The vaccine protects your child now and helps safeguard their future partners down the road.

Last year, for the first time, the United Kingdom announced zero deaths from cervical cancer among women under age 30. Australia and New Zealand have seen similar results alongside increased vaccination rates.

Other countries have also reported declines in cervical cancer among women, as well as head and neck cancer among men.

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Resources and tips for finding immunizations for children:

Navigating vaccines can feel overwhelming. Talk to your pediatrician.

• Schedule an appointment through Cook Children's.
• Find your nearest Texas Department of State Health service clinic for information on clinics.
• Call 211 for help.
• Call Tarrant County Public Health at 817-248-6299 to make an appointment or to find a walk-in clinic.
• Check with your local school district for vaccine events.

Raising a child brings up endless questions, especially when it comes to their health and well-being. As back-to-school season approaches, immunizations may be top of mind for families, and searching for clear, honest answers about what goes into their child's body and why. With so much conflicting information online, sorting facts from fear can feel overwhelming. Cook Children’s Health Care System helps parents and caregivers cut through the noise with trusted guidance from medical experts who are parents themselves.

Among the required school shots, the Hepatitis B vaccine often raises the most questions, especially when it comes to why infants and young kids need protection so early.

Hospitalist Laura Romano, D.O., explains the key facts about hepatitis B and the vaccine that prevents it.

What is Hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B is a serious liver disease that is caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV).

In adults, hepatitis B is usually spread through blood or intimate contact. In young children, however, the virus usually spreads through contact with infected bodily fluids. Transmission most commonly occurs during labor and delivery, but it can also happen through everyday activities, such as sharing a toothbrush or being bitten by a person who has the virus.

People infected with hepatitis B can spread the virus even if they show no symptoms. In fact, children often remain asymptomatic for years while still being contagious. This is especially concerning because infants and young children are more likely than adults to develop chronic, lifelong liver conditions, including permanent liver damage, cirrhosis (severe scarring), and liver cancer.

Treatment options for chronic hepatitis B are limited and focus primarily on halting the progression of liver damage rather than curing the virus itself. For severe cases where the liver has sustained significant damage, a liver transplant may ultimately be necessary.

How can the disease be prevented?

The most effective way to prevent hepatitis B is through vaccination. The vaccine is highly protective, offering about 95% effectiveness in preventing both acute and chronic infections. Since its routine inclusion in infant immunization schedules, rates of hepatitis B cases and associated liver cancer have steadily declined.

What would you like families to know about the hepatitis B vaccine and HBV?

• Hepatitis B is often misunderstood as a disease that only affects people engaging in high-risk or illegal behaviors. Anyone can contract the virus through everyday actions such as sharing a razor or toothbrush with someone who has the infection, even if that person shows no symptoms.
• Prenatal screening and maternal immunity testing alone are not enough to protect all children from hepatitis B. History has shown that targeting only 'high-risk' infants leaves gaps, leading to ongoing infections in both mothers and children that universal vaccination prevents.
• While some countries delay hepatitis B vaccination until children are older, their social and health care infrastructure differs significantly. Longer parental leave in those countries means children spend less time in daycare, where early exposure can occur. Also, universal health care access allows these countries to detect acute infections quickly and manage chronic cases more effectively.

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Wellness

• Schedule a Check-up: The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends annual checkups from age 3 through adolescence. Schedule early to secure an appointment before the school year starts.
• Mental Health: Have open and honest conversations with children about their concerns. Speak with the pediatrician on tools to help with anxiety.
  • Parenting & Back-to-School: Emotional Safety Starts at Home
  • Raising Joy Podcast: Back to School Anxiety
• Oral health: Children should visit the dentist every six months. Make sure kids brush twice a day for two minutes and floss daily. Make an appointment.
• Update child vaccinations: Navigating vaccines can feel overwhelming. Talk to your pediatrician. The Texas Department of State Health Services requires certain immunizations before children can attend school.
  • To schedule an appointment, visit Cook Children's website or your county's health department website.
  • If a child is not of school age but attends daycare, other requirements may apply.

  • College students are required to receive the meningococcal vaccination.

    

• Sport physicals: The annual UIL pre-participation physical evaluation form applies to middle school and high school students. Sports physicals give doctors the opportunity to check for a variety of concerns, from vision issues and asthma to a lingering sprain or even a serious heart condition.

Healthy Routines

• Sleep: Sleep fuels a child's memory and concentration. Without consistent rest, children struggle to focus in class and retain what they learn, impacting their academic performance.
• Key elements for building a bedtime routine:
  • Establish a consistent schedule by going to bed at the same time each night.
  • Limit screen time at least one hour before bedtime.
  • Keep bedrooms quiet, cool and dark.
  • Create a calming routine, such as reading together.
• Transportation safety:
  • E-Bike and E-Scooter safety: Always wear a helmet.
  • Driving: Drive slowly through school zones and watch for pedestrians.
  • Car Safety: Ensure your child is in the correct car seat or booster for their age and size.
• Nutritious meals: Plan balanced breakfasts and lunches to keep energy levels stable throughout the day.
• Screen time: According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, children ages 8 to 18 in the United States spent an average of 7.5 hours a day using screens in 2025. Set clear daily limits for non-academic screen use.

Make a Plan

• Virtual care: If school district offers it, sign up for the Cook Children’s School-Based Virtual Health Program.
• Allergy action plan: Provide updated emergency allergy plans and medications to the school nurse.
• Medication management plan: Submit required doctor authorization forms for any daily or emergency medications needed during school hours.

Collin County Health Care Services has issued a health alert due to an increase in chickenpox (varicella) across the county. Chickenpox is an infection caused by varicella-zoster virus, leading to a fever and an itchy rash with spots all over the body.

Because it is highly contagious, chickenpox is a reportable condition in Texas and must be disclosed to the local health department. According to health officials, schools and childcare settings are high-risk environments for outbreaks. Prompt identification and exclusion of cases are critical to limiting transmission.

While chickenpox used to be a common illness in the United States, it has become much rarer due to the chickenpox vaccine which helps prevent the infection.

Cook Children’s Health Care System doctors know parents and caregivers may have questions about this, Laura Romano, D.O., a hospitalist at Cook Children’s and mom herself, addresses some concerns.

• I got chickenpox as a kid. Should I be concerned if my little one gets it?
  • One infection with chicken pox should give you lifelong immunity.
• How effective is the varicella vaccine?
  • Two doses give up to 98% protection and have decreased hospitalizations and death by over 97% since 1995!
• What if my little one only had one dose. What does that mean for them?
  • If your child has already had one dose of the chicken pox vaccine, they will most likely not need another one if they get an actual infection. Please talk with your pediatrician about this.
• What happens if someone is immunocompromised and is around someone who has varicella?
  • The most common complication is a skin infection caused by scratching at the lesions, which may require antibiotics to help treat. Other more serious complications include pneumonia, ataxia (difficulty walking), dehydration, or encephalitis (swelling of the brain). People who also have chicken pox are at risk for shingles later in life. Vaccination against chicken pox helps prevent against all these complications including the furture risk of shingles.
• What complications can arise from chickenpox?
  • The most common chickenpox complications are bacterial infections of the skin and soft tissues in children and pneumonia in adults.
• How do you treat chickenpox?
  • While there is not a single treatment for chicken pox, doctors focus on symptom relief. Doctors recommend Tylenol for fever, calamine lotion or oatmeal baths for itchiness. Lesions should go away in the 10-14 days. 

Symptoms of Chickenpox:

A mild fever may occur 1 to 2 days before rash onset, particularly in adults. In children, the rash is often the first sign of disease.

Seek immediate medical attention when your child:

• has trouble breathing
• has a severe headache
• is very drowsy or has trouble waking up
• has trouble looking at bright lights
• has trouble walking
• seems confused
• seems very ill
• has a stiff neck
• has a fever that lasts for more than 4 days
• has a bad cough
• has an area of rash that leaks pus (thick, yellowish fluid) or becomes red, warm, swollen, or sore
• is vomiting

August is a chaotic month for any busy parent. Between back-to-school preparations and the last days of summer, it's easy to get overwhelmed. On top of that, August is also National Immunization Awareness Month—a perfect time to make sure your children are up-to-date on their vaccinations.

When people learn that I’m a pediatrician they often ask if my own two children are vaccinated and I always reply with a resounding yes. My children are vaccinated for several reasons: 

Vaccines are safe! 

• Every vaccine that is currently in use has gone through a rigorous testing phase to make sure that the vaccine is safe. Side effects and potential reactions are closely reviewed by multiple agencies at the federal level. Even after the vaccine has been approved, the Vaccine Adverse Effect Reporting System (VAERS) continues to monitor for additional side effects. 
• Millions upon millions of vaccines will be administered this year with minimal side effects. The most common side effects are low-grade fever, redness around the injection site or maybe some mild muscle aches. 

Vaccines are effective! 

• Vaccines have led to the eradication of previously fatal diseases like Smallpox. 

Vaccines save lives!

• Vaccines have saved the lives of nearly 200 million people in the past century. Many of those lives saved are of young children and babies. 
• Vaccines prevent diseases and illnesses that have serious consequences, even in healthy children. 
• Vaccines prevent diseases that can lead to hospitalizations, pneumonia, potential hearing loss, potential loss of an arm or a leg, brain damage, and even death. 

Vaccines do not cause autism. 

• Decades of research has shown again and again and again that there is no link between vaccines and autism. 

The ingredients in vaccines are safe. 

• Just as the individual vaccine is studied, the ingredients in vaccines are also rigorously studied. 
• Some vaccines contain ingredients like aluminum, which can be found in fruits and vegetables. Aluminum helps the body produce an immune response and is perfectly safe. 
• Vaccines can be preserved with very small amounts of formaldehyde, so small that it is not harmful at all. 
• These ingredients are like baking powder when you’re making cookies. By itself, baking powder does not taste good but in small amounts, it’s needed for your cookies to come out looking and tasting great! 

Vaccines are recommended by my children’s doctors.

• My kids’ pediatrician - along with the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Infectious Disease Society of America, the American College of Physicians, the American Medical Association, and the American Nurses Association - all support routine childhood immunizations. 

Vaccines help keep my community safe. 

• My children are vaccinated because doing so protects them and our community. 
• Vaccines can help prevent your child from spreading illnesses to at-risk individuals such as your parents who have diabetes, your child’s classmate who has a newborn at home, your neighbor who is undergoing chemotherapy for cancer, your co-worker who just received a kidney transplant, or the cashier in the grocery store who has an autoimmune condition. 
• We rely on everyone to get their vaccines to keep the community safe. 

And the most important reason to me is that I want to protect my dad. My dad has type 1 diabetes and is immunocompromised. My kids will always get their flu vaccines every year so we can give him the BIGGEST hug without worrying about making him sick. 

So, this month, in between back-to-school shopping, meet the teacher nights and the ever-exciting first day of school, please call your child’s pediatrician and make sure that they are up-to-date on their vaccines. We would love to talk to you more and answer all of your questions and concerns! 

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As of Tuesday, April 8, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) reports 505 cases and 57 patients hospitalized. Of the 505 confirmed cases, 495 are either unvaccinated or their vaccination status is unknown. No cases have been reported at Cook Children’s Medical Centers in Fort Worth or Prosper.

Cook Children’s Health Care System, through Marc Mazade, M.D., medical director of infection prevention and control, and Alice Philips, M.D., director of ambulatory quality and safety, explained what this means and what families should know.

The measles virus is highly contagious and can remain in the air for up to two hours.

“If the children at Great Wolf Lodge (during the exposure dates) were vaccinated then only observation is needed,” Dr. Phillips said. “Vaccination provides excellent protection and these kids have little risk to develop measles.”

Dr. Mazade explained that if a child visited either of these locations during the exposure period and was not vaccinated, they should watch for symptoms related to measles.

“Parents should watch for fever, congestion, cough, and red eyes and development of a rash,” Dr. Mazade said.

There is a 21-day incubation period, which means a child could develop the measles during that time. Children who develop any symptoms during that period should contact their doctor.

Dr. Mazade explained if symptoms develop, the family should keep the child at home and call their primary care physician.

Cook Children’s primary care clinics and neighborhood health centers can do testing on site for existing patients. 

If a parent suspects their child may have measles, they should call the primary care doctor before arriving at the office so arrangements can be made for safety and to minimize potential exposure in the waiting room.

“Parents should not hesitate to call their primary care physician for any questions,” Dr. Phillips said. “We are here to answer them.” 

Cook Children’s Health Care System continues to work with county health departments where clinics, medical centers and urgent cares are located.

DSHS recommendations

DSHS released new guidelines Monday now recommending children living in Cochran, Dallam, Dawson, Gaines, Garza, Lynn, Lamar, Lubbock, Terry, and Yoakum.

Infants
Immediately administer an early dose of measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine for infants aged 6-11 months.

Children
Administer a second dose of MMR vaccine for preschool-aged children aged 1 to 4 years who received one prior dose.

Children at least one year of age with no documentation of vaccination history should receive two doses at least 28 days apart.

Adults
Administer a second dose of MMR vaccine for adults who received one prior dose.

Adults with no documentation of vaccination history should receive two doses at least 28 days apart.

Dr. Phillips advised parents that while this does not include Tarrant County, families should watch for any updates to this recommendation and discuss any questions or concerns with their doctor.

Where can you get immunized?

Vaccinations and immunizations 
Here are a few resources and tips for finding a place to take your child for immunizations. 

• Check with your child’s doctor. Ask which vaccines are due and make an appointment. If your child needs a doctor, see our locations or call 211 for help. 
• Visit a public health vaccine clinic. Anyone from any county can call Tarrant County Public Health at 817-248-6299 to make an appointment or to find a walk-in clinic. 
• Check with your local school district for vaccine events. 
• Enter your zip code at Vaccines.gov to find other options. 
   

What are symptoms of measles?

Measles symptoms typically appear seven to 14 days after infection. They can include:

• Fever, sometimes over 104º Fahrenheit or 40 º Celsius
• Runny nose
• Cough
• Red, watery eyes
• Sore throat
• Tiredness

Following the initial symptoms, a rash will develop that starts on the forehead and spreads down the body and out to the hands and feet.

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Measles and Community Health 

Marc Mazade, M.D., Cook Children’s medical director of Infection Prevention and Control, encourages anyone who has not received the vaccine to do so. Vaccinations not only protect you, but also help limit the spread to others.

As of March 14, the Texas Department of State Health Services reported 259 cases of measles in Texas.

“I'm worried. It's a real dangerous situation right now,” Dr. Mazade said.  “There are lots of people who are eligible to receive the vaccine and haven't. There are areas where vaccine uptake has been really poor and it is likely to rip through these communities like wildfire, like it did in West Texas.”

The best way to prevent getting and spreading the virus is to get the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. We talked with Dr. Mazade about what makes this vaccine effective, who can get it and why vaccination is important.

Measles is one of the most contagious diseases humans have faced. Descriptions of the disease date back to at least the 9th century, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), and became more widespread in the 16th century. Prior to the vaccine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates three to four million people became infected per year, and 400 to 500 died.

Before the measles vaccine, which became available in its current form in 1968, most everyone got measles, Dr. Mazade said. While measles can be mild, it is “pretty miserable.” The virus can cause a fever from 104 to 106 degrees, congestion, cough and a red rash that spreads across the body. Complications from the measles are not uncommon, including ear infections and pneumonia. As of March 14, one child has died from the current measles outbreak.

“People don’t understand how dangerous it is and how dangerous vaccine preventable diseases are,” Dr. Mazade said. “It can be really serious for people who are pregnant, people with immunodeficiencies and people who are on immunosuppressants that would make them more susceptible.”

Herd Immunity

The current measles outbreak shows just how contagious it is.

In general, measles has not been transmitted within the U.S. for years due to herd immunity.

Herd immunity is the idea that when enough people are vaccinated against a disease, it is much harder for the disease to spread. Herd immunity for measles is reached when 90% of a population is vaccinated, Dr. Mazade said.

Imagine a group of 100 people spread out across a room. Ninety of them have been vaccinated and cannot get or give anyone else measles. One person in the room brings in the virus.

Perhaps the people nearby are all vaccinated; the virus will likely not spread or will only spread to a few people.  But if only half of the people are vaccinated, the infected person is likely standing near at least one other unvaccinated person. The disease can spread through the community, and can do so at an increasing rate.

With measles, face-to-face contact is not required to contract the disease, Dr. Mazade said. The infectious aerosol that is created when someone with measles coughs or sneezes fills the entire air space and even lingers in the air for up to two hours after a person with measles leaves the area. To go off of the room metaphor, measles can spread throughout a space quickly and endanger more people.

For years, the U.S. was like the first room. Sometimes, an unvaccinated person would travel abroad and bring back measles, but it was not able to spread due to herd immunity. In 2000, the U.S. documented zero cases of measles, and the virus was declared eliminated from the United States.

About 92 to 94% of a population needs to be vaccinated in order to achieve herd immunity for measles, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. The current outbreak is due to that vaccination percentage dropping, Dr. Mazade said. Over the past few years, fewer and fewer people received the MMR vaccine.

Misinformation about vaccines has contributed to that decrease. Mazade encouraged people to seek direct sources for accurate vaccine information. The CDC, WHO and Cook Children’s vaccine resource page are good places to find accurate information.

Asking your doctor directly may be the best way to get information on your vaccine questions.

 “Trust your doctor,” Dr. Mazade said. “He or she is the best source of information about vaccines and vaccine safety.”

Getting Vaccinated

Fortunately, future measles outbreaks are preventable.

The MMR vaccine is safe and available for unvaccinated adults to receive -- and it is extremely effective. The first dose grants about 93% immunity and the second, and final, dose grants 97% immunity. This means that 97 out of 100 vaccinated people exposed to measles will not become sick.

The measles vaccine can be administered to children who are 12 months old and is part of the recommended vaccine schedule that the CDC recommends. If you did not get the vaccine as a child -- or are not sure if you did -- talk to your doctor.

Some people may want their children to get the vaccine early due to the outbreak. As of now, this is not recommended by our local health department. Babies who are younger than six months will likely not respond to the vaccine and not achieve immunity, Dr. Mazade said. Even if the baby has been exposed to measles, the vaccine is not recommended at this age. Dr. Mazade recommends talking to your doctor if you have concerns about measles exposure.

Even if this outbreak slows down, it is still important to get vaccinated.

“If people who are fully eligible are not fully vaccinated, we will be in the spot time and time again,” Dr. Mazade said. “Until we have a huge outbreak with lots of sick people."

Vaccinations and immunizations

Here are a few resources and tips for finding a place to take your child for immunizations. 

• Check with your child’s doctor. Ask which vaccines are due and make an appointment. If your child needs a doctor, see our locations or call 211 for help. 
• Visit a public health vaccine clinic. Anyone from any county can call Tarrant County Public Health at 817-248-6299 to make an appointment or to find a walk-in clinic. 
• Check with your local school district for vaccine events. 
• Enter your zip code at Vaccines.gov to find other options. 
   

 Julee Morrow, M.D., a pediatrician at Cook Children’s Harris Parkway, is one of the few current doctors at Cook Children’s who treated patients during that time.

“A majority of the kids that I took care of had to get admitted to the hospital,” Dr. Morrow recalls. “We needed a way to keep them hydrated. We needed a way to keep their oxygen levels up.”

More than 30 years later, Dr. Morrow did not expect to see another outbreak, especially with the availability of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

Cook Children’s has tested patients for the measles; there have been no confirmed cases at its  Fort Worth and Prosper medical centers.

“We are in such a good place from a standpoint of the science and the technology we have now, it can be prevented, ” Dr. Morrow said.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), measles was declared eradicated in the United States in 2000.

“We were the only country that didn't have a travel advisory for measles, because our rates were so low, because we had such good vaccination rates,” said Alice Phillips, M.D., Director of Ambulatory Quality and Safety.

The Texas Health and Human Services reported the first measles death on Feb. 26, A school-aged child who was not vaccinated died. The child had been hospitalized in Lubbock and tested positive for measles.

“I feel sad because measles is so easily prevented,” Dr. Morrow explained. “One dose of measles vaccine gives 93%. Two doses give people 97 to 99% immunity.”

As of Feb. 28, the state reported 146 measles cases, mostly in children. Rockwall County reported its first measles case on Feb. 25. Cook Children’s Medical Centers in Fort Worth and Prosper are prepared to treat patients.

Cook Children’s Health Care System is prepared

To prevent potential spread, Cook Children’s Medical Centers, primary care, and urgent care offices ask families to call ahead and inform staff if they believe their child may have measles.

“We will likely be donning all of our personal protective equipment (PPE) to go to the family’s car to screen children before bringing them into the waiting room, so as not to expose any other susceptible patients,” said Dr. Morrow.

If the child is taken into an exam room, the room will be closed for two hours afterward. Families will be provided with a handout on quarantine and measles information. 

Cook Children’s continues to monitor the cases in the state and will revise protocols as necessary.

Thirty-eight years ago, there was no rapid test. Doctors diagnosed patients based on symptoms.

“We now have better testing,” explained Dr. Morrow.

Now, patients are given a nasal or throat swab, similar to the tests used during the COVID-19 pandemic. The sample is sent to a lab. While patients await results, Dr. Morrow said families must quarantine.

“Measles virus is one of the most contagious germs on the planet,” said Dr. Morrow. “It would be very easy to spread it to someone whose immune system is not very strong, like a person who has finished chemotherapy, or has heart or lung problems. It would be very dangerous for a premature baby.”

Dr. Phillips understands that parents may have concerns about the science of vaccines and encourages them to discuss these concerns with their pediatricians.

The CDC recommends children get two doses of MMR vaccine, starting with the first dose at 12 - 15 months of age, and the second dose at 4 through 6 years of age.

“We are here to help them, for them to understand the science and to give them the vaccines that their children need,” Dr. Phillips said.

A native Texan, Dr. Morrow urges people to care for one another. The MMR vaccine provides 93% to 95% protection with one dose and 97% effectiveness with two doses.

She encourages families to have a plan in place if they are unable or reluctant to get the vaccine.

Vaccinations and immunizations

Here are a few resources and tips for finding a place to take your child for immunizations. 

• Check with your child’s doctor. Ask which vaccines are due and make an appointment. If your child needs a doctor, see our locations or call 211 for help. 
• Visit a public health vaccine clinic. Anyone from any county can call Tarrant County Public Health at 817-248-6299 to make an appointment or to find a walk-in clinic. 
• Check with your local school district for vaccine events. 
• Enter your zip code at Vaccines.gov to find other options. 
   

The Texas Department of State Health Services [DSHS] reported a measles outbreak in Gaines County on Feb. 6.

Measles is a highly contagious upper respiratory virus that can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant moms, infants, and young children. Last week, six school-aged children contracted measles, according to DSHS. On Feb. 11 the number increased to 24 cases, all residents of Gaines County.

Mary Suzanne Whitworth,M.D, medical director of Infectious Diseases at Cook Children’s, explained that DSHS puts out health alerts to notify physicians about disease outbreaks so they are aware of local patterns and can recognize cases.  

Cook Children’s Health Care System has not reported any measles cases.

Measles symptoms typically appear seven to 14 days after infection. They can include:

• Fever, sometimes over 104º Fahrenheit or 40 º Celsius
• Runny nose
• Cough
• Red, watery eyes
• Sore throat
• Tiredness

Following the initial symptoms, a rash will develop that starts on the forehead and spreads down the body and out to the hands and feet.

Measles can make individuals more susceptible to ear infections, croup, and severe bronchopneumonia. Long-term complications, including debilitating neurological conditions like subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), can also occur, said Marc Mazade, M.D., medical director of infection prevention and control.

Pregnant women are significantly more likely to be hospitalized, develop a secondary pneumonia, or even die, explained Alice Phillips, M.D., Director of Ambulatory Quality and Safety.  Equally at risk is their unborn child.  First, there is an increased risk of spontaneous loss of the pregnancy.  If born after exposure, the infants can suffer from heart problems, cataracts, developmental delays, deafness, or learning disabilities.  

Protect yourself

“The good news is that vaccination against measles virus induces strong protection from serious infection in as few as 3 days,” Dr. Mazade said.

The first MMR vaccine is typically given to kids at 12 months, with a booster at 4 years old.

The patients in Gaines County are unvaccinated, according to DSHS. Nine patients have been hospitalized.

“Face-to-face exposure is not required to transmit measles,” said Dr. Mazade.

The virus spreads through infectious respiratory droplets and airborne transmission (from coughing or sneezing), where tiny droplets can remain suspended in the air. Measles is highly contagious; one infected person can potentially infect 12 to 18 unvaccinated individuals.

Although there have been no measles cases reported at Cook Children’s Medical Centers in Fort Worth and Prosper, Dr. Phillips, noted a decrease in childhood immunization rates.

The decline in immunizations is attributed to several factors like missed doctor visits during the pandemic, parental concerns, misinformation, and other factors.

Dr. Phillips said parental concerns for the vaccine range from pain to questions surrounding the complex science of vaccines.

“Vaccines must traverse an intense approval process before going to market and ongoing safety monitoring occurs through four major vaccine safety surveillance systems,” said Dr. Phillips. She adds Cook Children’s doctors are willing to answer any questions.

Dr. Mazade encourages parents who have postponed the vaccination of their children to call their primary care doctor. Pregnant woman cannot receive the measles vaccine, if concerned they should reach out to their provider.

If a parent suspects their child may have measles, they should call the primary care doctor before arriving at the office so arrangements can be made for safety and to minimize potential exposure in the waiting room.