Texas Parents Stand Firm Against Vaccination Following Child’s Measles Tragedy

DALLAS — The parents of a six-year-old girl who died from measles in late February have reaffirmed their opposition to vaccinations, even after the tragic loss. In an interview with the anti-vaccine group Children’s Health Defense, they expressed their continued refusal to administer the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, which is endorsed by health experts as safe and effective.

The family, part of a Mennonite community in West Texas, is connected to an outbreak that has infected over 300 individuals since January. The parents shared their story while alternating between English and German, facilitated by a translator.

According to the mother, her daughter was the first among their five children to contract the virus. After developing a rash and experiencing severe symptoms, she was hospitalized in Lubbock and placed in intensive care. Tragically, she was unvaccinated.

The mother explained that pneumonia can be a severe complication of measles, and her daughter’s condition deteriorated rapidly. When asked about the care their daughter received, the representatives from Children’s Health Defense probed for insights that challenged the need for vaccinations.

Amid tears, the mother urged others not to vaccinate, suggesting that alternative treatments exist for measles, which she downplayed as less dangerous than portrayed. She even contracted the virus herself on the day of her daughter’s funeral. Fortunately, her four surviving children experienced milder symptoms and recovered with local medical assistance.

Dr. Erin Carlson, a public health expert from the University of Texas at Arlington, warned about the consequences of eroding trust in the MMR vaccine. “Misinformation and disinformation cost us lives,” she stated, emphasizing the vaccine’s critical role in preventing severe illness and complications associated with measles.

Measles, once considered eliminated in the U.S., is highly contagious and poses an increasing danger in under-vaccinated communities like the one in Texas facing an outbreak. Experts agree that increasing vaccination rates is essential to curtailing the spread of the disease.

The father concluded, expressing a belief in a higher purpose for his daughter’s fate. “God does no wrong,” he stated, suggesting that her time on earth had come to an end and indicating a belief in her wellbeing beyond this life.