SAN ANTONIO – Since the measles outbreak started in Texas, more than two months ago, vaccination rates in Bexar County have slightly increased. Recent federal budget cuts could threaten that.
“Previously reported vaccination rates for measles was about 94% among our kindergarteners. It is increased a little bit by about point 4%,” said Dr. Anita Kurian, Deputy Director of the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District.
Dr Kurian said Metro Health has been hosting pop up events throughout the city and offering low-cot measles vaccines at the immunization clinic on San Antonio’s east side.
“These vaccines that we offer for Children, I want to emphasize that they protect against 19 different infectious diseases, including measles,” said Dr. Kurian.
Right now, Metro Health’s low-cost immunization clinic offers more than a dozen vaccines but due to federal budget cuts, those services will be reduced this summer.
“Our core federal vaccine for children, Grant has been cut. Not cut completely, we are showing a cut of just over $500,000 and this cut significantly impacts our clinic operations,” said Dr. Kurian.
The immunization clinic, according to Dr. Kurian, is fully funded through June 30th and the department is working to find other funding to have minimal disruption in services.
“If those alternate strategies Don’t, don’t, don’t, bear fruit then, as of now, come July 1, our ability to administer low-cost vaccines in our immunization clinic will no longer exist,” said Dr. Kurian.
If Metro Health can no longer afford to provide free or low-cost vaccines, Dr. Kurian said vaccination rates in Bexar County could drop, putting thousand of people at risk.
“These cuts in services, they seriously threaten our response to outbreaks. That is the real threat of the return of vaccine preventable diseases, especially diseases like measles,” said Dr. Kurian.