In a small Texas town, Mennonite community members gathered with health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr to mourn eight-year-old Daisy Hildebrand, the second unvaccinated girl to die from measles in two months.
Local health director Zach Holbrooks joined the reception after her funeral. “The focus was on their healing,” he said. “You never want to see a child that young pass away from any illness, especially when there is prevention – the MMR vaccine.”
Holbrooks, unvaccinated against measles as a child, got shots in college and again in February when Seminole became the epicenter of one of America’s worst measles outbreaks in a decade.
The US has recorded over 700 cases this year, with 541 in western Texas and 56 hospitalizations. Cases in neighboring states are linked to the outbreak. The two child deaths are the first US measles fatalities since 2015.
Public health experts warn the outbreak continues spreading while they struggle with vaccine hesitancy and mixed messaging from federal officials, including Kennedy who previously endorsed immunization conspiracy theories.
“I wish more would get the vaccine,” Holbrooks said. “We can put messaging out, but it’s up to them to come see us.”
In Seminole (population 7,000), digital signs warn about measles, which can cause pneumonia, brain swelling and death. The disease spread rapidly among Mennonites, estimated at 40,000 across several counties with school vaccination rates as low as 82%. Around 95% vaccination coverage is needed for herd immunity.
The Low German Mennonite group began immigrating to the area in the 1970s. While their religion has no specific anti-vaccine doctrine, they typically avoid modern healthcare. Texas allows vaccine exemptions, with approximately 118,000 kindergartners exempt from one or more vaccines.
Eighteen-year-old server Savannah Knelsen remains unvaccinated despite many relatives and friends contracting measles. Her co-worker Jessica Giesbrecht, 19, is vaccinated and concerned for her baby niece who is too young for the shot. Yet many in Seminole say the outbreak barely affects daily life.
Kennedy, attending the funeral, recently gave his strongest statement supporting measles vaccination, telling CBS News, “People should get the measles vaccine.” This triggered backlash from anti-vaccine supporters. He added the government “should not be mandating” vaccines.
His influence persists. In Mennonite-owned health stores, vitamin A supplements are prominently displayed – a remedy Kennedy promoted alongside vaccines. Doctors warn this is no substitute for vaccination, and Covenant Children’s Hospital has treated several children for vitamin A toxicity.
Local health departments face challenges from potential federal funding cuts of $11.4 billion. Andrews County health director Gordon Mattimoe can’t hire an immunization nurse due to anticipated cuts of $250,000. Texas could lose up to $550 million in health grants.
Since January, Seminole has vaccinated 246 people against measles. Officials are working to build trust, with some success through Mennonite doctors who encourage vaccination.
“Those trusted messengers in communities are very important,” Mattimoe said. Still, he believes the virus will continue circulating. “We’re just at the beginning. Until they get natural immunity, it’ll keep running its course.”
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