People with ties to Brownstone Institute have significant authority over access to vaccines and scientific research.

The state has recorded more than 3,500 cases of whooping cough so far this year, 10 times the number in 2023.

Instead of waiting for the state to send them one, parents would be able to print out vaccine exemption forms at home if they want to skip school-required shots. Critics believe the bill would increase infections.

The bill would allow a vaccine exemption form to be downloadable. Currently, a form must be requested from the state and mailed to the recipient.

Much of the outbreak is concentrated in the districts of Texas House leaders, including Speaker Dustin Burrows. The crisis appears to have done little to change support for “vaccine choice.”

About 500 Texans, mostly young unvaccinated children, have contracted the disease. The U.S. health secretary was in West Texas to visit the family.

The measles vaccine has been proven to be safe and effective against the disease, which is highly contagious and can be life threatening.

In rural West Texas, measles has sickened nearly 150 people, most of them unvaccinated. A school-age child has died. The virus is spreading among Gaines County’s Mennonite community, where government mandates are not trusted.

Emboldened by Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s nomination and disdain for pandemic-era mandates, skeptics are pushing for bills to make it easier to opt out of vaccines.

Experts argue other assertions made in the lawsuit filing are completely unsubstantiated, such as one claiming that vaccinated people were more likely to die from COVID-19, which Texas health data disputes.

The legislation, which Republican lawmakers have been trying to pass since 2021, offers no exceptions for doctors’ offices, clinics or other health facilities.

Long an opponent of vaccine and mask mandates, the Republican said pharmaceutical companies may have misrepresented data. Pfizer strongly disagrees.

For some parents of kids under 5 who want to vaccinate them, the wait has been excruciating, fraught with delays and close calls. Others are hesitant to have their young children vaccinated.

Launched in June, a cross-border effort using buses and donated vaccines is helping roughly 2,000 Nuevo Laredo residents per day get COVID-19 shots in Laredo — 10% of Texas’ daily total.

Since vaccines became widely available for Texans 12 and older last May, about 82% of Texas’ COVID-19 deaths were among the unvaccinated.

COVID-19 numbers are plummeting statewide, but on Texas’ southern border with Mexico, Laredo is still battling its fourth surge.

Corbevax, a low-cost coronavirus vaccine created in Houston, could be a better weapon against COVID-19 by reaching the unvaccinated in poorer countries.

Texas will soon surpass its previous COVID-19 hospitalization record. Doctors and nurses say they can’t keep up this pace for much longer and implore people to get vaccinated.

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Biden administration’s mandate that requires federal employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The Department of Justice is appealing the decision.

Challenges to new Texas laws on voting, political districts and abortion are all pending in court, as is the state’s challenge to federal vaccine mandates. But until the courts rule, those laws remain in place — and they provide political fodder for the incumbents who support them.

“The situation in Texas is that it probably won’t reach the peak [for cases] until the second half of January,” a top researcher said.

The state has already challenged the federal government’s vaccine orders for big businesses, health care workers and federal contractors.

In 2021, the Tribune’s data visuals team helped tell the biggest stories affecting Texans. Here’s a roundup of our most impactful work.

The highly contagious omicron variant has led to a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases in Texas. Hospitalizations are beginning to increase in a health care system already troubled by staffing shortages.

So far this month, at least 1.2 million Texans have gotten booster shots — nearly triple the number of people who received their first doses of the vaccine during the same time.

Untreated medical conditions, lack of access to testing and limited paid time off leave uninsured Texans particularly vulnerable to the disease.

Texas’ nursing home staff vaccination rates are lower than half the country’s — but a judge’s decision last week to delay a vaccine mandate helped them avoid laying off a third of their employees.

Early indicators suggest the variant is very contagious, but little is known about the severity of disease it causes.

So much is unknown about the new COVID-19 variant: the severity of the illness it causes, whether it can resist vaccines and natural antibodies and whether it’s more contagious than the delta variant that has burned through Texas and the U.S. for months.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton had called the mandate “an unprecedented federal vaccine decree” on health care workers.

A surge in COVID-19 cases from the West is impacting El Paso.

Fifty-seven percent of voters support mask requirements in indoor public spaces based on local conditions, while 58% support mask requirements in public schools.

The new state survey is the first time Texas health officials have been able to statistically measure the vaccine's true impact on the pandemic.

The move comes a week after Texas filed a separate lawsuit over new vaccination rules for federal contractors.

Appointment slots filled up quickly for the first pediatric doses. More kid-friendly shot sites come with therapy dogs, toys and snacks.

The new rules preempt state and local laws, including part of Gov. Greg Abbott’s ban on vaccine mandates.

The approval marks a long-awaited milestone in the nearly two-year fight against the deadly virus that experts say has likely already infected nearly half the population in that age group.

The federal government will now send a first shipment of more than a million doses destined for children in that age group to providers in nearly half of the state's counties.

The vaccine’s protection goes down with time, so medical experts recommend a supplemental dose after two to six months. Find out here if it’s time to get one.

A Houston vaccine team would like a U.S. distributor but for now focuses its efforts abroad to inoculate those in countries where COVID-19 variants surface more quickly.

A prohibition on vaccine mandates was one of Gov. Greg Abbott’s priorities for the special session, but it did not have enough support in the Legislature.

The halt comes after Gov. Greg Abbott expanded his ban on COVID-19 vaccine mandates — which previously applied to cities, counties and school districts — to private employers.

American Airlines and Southwest Airlines say they will continue requiring employee vaccinations despite Abbott’s new order, which has left federal government contractors, nursing homes and other companies caught between conflicting rules from the Biden administration and the state.

About 40% of Texas nursing home workers are unvaccinated and could face dismissal or quit their jobs under a federal vaccination requirement for the industry.

Health officials say that the state’s high rate of unvaccinated people contributed to a summer surge in hospitalizations, which preceded the spike in deaths.

Escuche al Dr. Ivan Meléndez disipar la desinformación que corre entre la población de habla hispana.

About 30 people came to a rally at Houston City Hall Saturday to decry masks and vaccines amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Pregnant women are getting vaccinated at lower rates than the general population. “This variant is much more aggressive, [and] pregnant women are getting sicker much faster,” one doctor says.

More than 11% of those who received their first dose haven’t gotten a second shot, and more than 1 million people are more than 90 days overdue.

While some national companies are requiring employees to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, mandates have been the exception for businesses in Texas.

More and more Houston area businesses are choosing to mandate vaccinations or are considering doing so.

Ten years ago, the state led in requiring meningitis vaccines for students under 22 enrolling in college. Now, in the middle of a pandemic, lawmakers are more skeptical of a COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

Due to the increase in demand for COVID-19 vaccinations, Harris County Public Health said Tuesday it is making changes to better meet the vaccination needs of Harris County residents.

The Houston Health Department is announcing the schedule for sites offering free doses of COVID-19 vaccine during the week of Aug. 16, 2021.

Sheyla Moraes, an intensive care nurse, says this latest surge of the coronavirus pandemic is particularly draining because it was preventable. Listen in the weekend edition of The Brief podcast.

The number of COVID-19 patients being treated continues to increase every day.

Senate Bill 968, signed into law in June, allows the TABC and other agencies to revoke businesses' state licenses if they make vaccine proof a requirement of getting service.

There are two main groups within Texas’ unvaccinated population: white conservatives in rural areas, and Hispanic and Black people in big cities.

Memorial Hermann Health System announced its mandatory COVID-19 vaccine policy Monday for all members of its workforce.

There are many reasons why people choose not to get vaccinated.

Texas Republican state leaders held their ground against allowing local schools and governments to require masks. The CDC guidelines are not mandates and have no weight of law.

In the Texas Medical Center, and at more than a dozen hospitals throughout the greater Houston-Metro area, health officials say COVID-19 numbers are trending in the wrong direction.

The latest, most transmissible coronavirus variant is spreading rampantly in countries with low vaccination rates, and health experts are bracing for impact in Texas.

The first cruise sets sail from Galveston this weekend for the first time since the pandemic, but a Houston mom and her 8-year-old twin daughters won’t be on board as planned due to a mix-up over vaccination waivers.

In the June poll, 47% of voters said they were coming and going as they were before the pandemic, while 39% said they were leaving the house but exercising caution.

Their Texas swing is part of a larger effort by senior administration officials who are fanning out across the country this week to encourage vaccinations ahead of the administration’s self-imposed goal of hitting a 70% countrywide vaccination rate by July 4.

Worried about a possible resurgence of COVID-19 infections, doctors Carolyn Salter and her husband, Michael Gorby, have taken it upon themselves to get lagging vaccination rates up in rural East Texas.

The possibility that the vaccine won’t work — or that, as some worry, it could even hurt them — is a devastating blow after a year of sacrifice, isolation and waiting for protection against the virus.

Abbott's signature will mean that businesses that require so-called "vaccine passports" can't get state contracts and could lose state licenses or operating permits.

Lawmakers didn’t succeed in curtailing the governor's power during a disaster, but they did pass bills that prohibit so-called vaccine passports and ban the mandatory closure of churches and gun stores.

Gov. Greg Abbott encouraged “groups of Texans who wish to get vaccinated as a business, family unit, friend group, or more” to schedule an event.

In the days since the federal approval of the shot for their age group, about 6% of Texas children ages 12-15 have gotten a dose of the Pfizer vaccine.

In a period of sagging vaccination rates — particularly among staunch conservatives — state Sen. Bob Hall used his platform to promulgate debunked anti-vaccine conspiracies and push claims that have largely been eschewed by the medical community.

The announcement will likely give new life to the debate about requiring vaccinations that has been playing out in Texas and across the nation.

Target said Tuesday it is offering a $5 coupon to all customers and employees who receive their vaccination at a CVS at Target location, for in-store purchases of $5 or more.

HOUSTON – Mayor Sylvester Turner and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo are requesting an extension of the FEMA supersite at NRG Park. The COVID-19 vaccination clinic, which opened on Feb. 24, was scheduled to remain at NRG Park for eight weeks. Now, Turner and Hidalgo are asking for the site to remain open through at least May 31. “On Monday, the eligibility is going to extend to everyone in Houston, Harris County, and across the state of Texas. That mass vaccination site is needed even more so now, so the request is to extend that vaccination site, pretty much indefinitely,” Turner said during a news briefing Wednesday.

HOUSTON – The Texas Department of State Health Services announced Tuesday that everyone 16 and up will be eligible to sign up to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in Texas beginning Monday, March 29. The Texas Department of State Health Services said it expects vaccine supplies to increase in April to more than a million doses per week, well above the demand under current eligibility criteria. “We certainly don’t want to lose that momentum that we’ve had,” said state health department spokesman Chris Van Deusen. Also next week, DSHS said it will launch a website to allow people to register for a shot through some public health providers in more rural communities. Texans can continue to find vaccine providers throughout Greater Houston and sign up on waitlists through the DSHS Vaccine Information page at dshs.texas.gov/covidvaccine.

(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)HOUSTON – CVS Health announced Thursday that it will begin to administer COVID-19 vaccines to eligible populations starting Sunday, March 14, at 74 additional CVS Pharmacy locations across Texas. These additional retail locations bring to 180 total CVS Pharmacy locations administering a COVID-19 vaccine in Texas. Vaccines at participating CVS Pharmacy locations in Texas will be available to individuals meeting state eligibility criteria, as well as K-12 teachers and staff and childcare workers. Patients must register in advance at CVS.com or through the CVS Pharmacy app, and people without online access can contact CVS Customer Service: (800) 746-7287. Vaccines will eventually be available at CVS Pharmacy locations throughout the country subject to product availability, with the capacity to administer 20 to 25 million shots per month.

HOUSTON – St. Luke’s Health announced Monday that Rice Stadium will be a new appointment-only vaccination site starting on March 15. The Rice Stadium vaccine clinic, located at 2200 University Blvd. It is required that all visitors wear a face covering and maintain a physical distance while on campus and within the vaccination clinic. “The iconic Rice Stadium is large and functional and conducive to an efficient clinic operation. St. Luke’s Health is proactively reaching out to area schools/districts and care centers to develop plans for vaccinating eligible staff.

HOUSTON – METRO Houston will now offer free rides to anyone who plans to receive their COVID-19 vaccine. Houstonians within the METRO service area can hop on their local bus, METRORail, Park & Ride, METRORapid, and METROLift ride, according to a news release Thursday. Those who plan to use the free service must show proof of their appointment or vaccination card upon boarding. Eligible riders must also fall under categories 1A and 1B of the state vaccination guidelines, which includes frontline workers, residents at long-term care facilities and those at greater risk for complications. The free ride offer will be expanded along with the state’s vaccine expansion to other groups.

HOUSTON – The FEMA supersite at NRG Park became fully operational Wednesday. The site plans to administer 126,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine over a three-week period. “The vaccination site here at NRG Park is the largest operation we are running in Texas,” said FEMA spokeswoman Carmen Castro. FEMA said many of the technical issues experienced Wednesday were fixed ahead of Thursday’s opening. However, this, whatever is broken here at NRG, needs to be repaired.”According to the woman, workers told her others have experienced similar issues.

HOUSTON – A sore arm, fatigue, mild headaches and fever are just a few of the side effects health experts say you can expect after receiving the second dose of the COVID-19 Vaccine. The side effects are not only common but a good sign according to Memorial Hermann’s Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Linda Yancey. “The reason you get more of those effects after the second dose is because the first dose is the first time your immune system has ever seen these viral proteins,” Yancey said. The tetanus vaccine is one of our best vaccines and that’s why you get those side effects,” Yancey said. If the side effects continue, Yancey said you should make an appointment with your primary doctor.

SUGAR LAND, Texas – All slots are filled for a Fort Bend County COVID-19 vaccine drive-thru clinic at Smart Financial Centre in Sugar Land Wednesday, Feb. 3 to Saturday, Feb. 6, authorities said Tuesday. If you are 65 years of age or older, you are asked to complete a vaccination verification form that will confirm your eligibility for vaccination. Public registration is available only to those 65 years of age and older, consistent with the state’s Phase 1B guidance. Approximately 16,000 COVID-19 vaccinations will be administered, Memorial Hermann said. Vaccine supply is limited and appointments will be scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis until the available appointments are full.

CONROE, Texas – Appointments for Montgomery County’s first mass coronavirus vaccine clinic were full Tuesday shortly after the clinic was announced. The appointment-only clinic is being held at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds at 9333 Airport Road in Conroe. People without appointments will not be permitted inside the vaccine site. COMPLETE COVERAGE: Follow the latest vaccine news in our special sectionThere will be 2,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine administered during the clinic. Some first responders were vaccinated Tuesday to work out the kinks and ensure Wednesday’s event goes smoothly.

HOUSTON – Harris County Public Health is advising residents to get tested due to potential holiday COVID-19 exposure. Heath officials said even if a person visited with family members during the holiday, they should still get tested. Officials said COVID-19 infections from Christmas and New Year’s will begin to show up in the next week or two. Officials said it’s important to get tested as those in the high risk community continue to get the vaccine in efforts to slow the spread. Here is a list of HCPH test sites where you get your results in 3-5 days:Jan. 11 – Jan. 16- M.O.

HOUSTON – The Houston Health Department opened the city’s first public COVID-19 vaccination site. The call center, which handles COVID-19 vaccination scheduling, COVID-19 test scheduling and also releases COVID-19 test results, experiences technical issues due to the high call volume. “If you do not already have an appointment, please do not show up to the location.”Turner provided an update on the COVID-19 vaccination clinic during a news briefing Sunday afternoon. Details: https://t.co/Ov6DpYkcAK#hounews — Houston Health Dept (@HoustonHealth) January 1, 2021Each person will be provided a location and appointment time to be vaccinated. The Houston Health Department will announce additional free vaccination opportunities as supply increases.

HOUSTON – The Department of State Health Services has given entities the go-ahead to begin vaccinating people eligible for Phase 1B, after vaccinating as many willing members of Phase 1A. According to McCarthy, almost 10,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine have been administered at Memorial Hermann as part of Phase 1A. “1A was really first-line medical responder’s, not just the doctors in hospitals but their clinic staff and EMS providers,” McCarthy said. “What the state has said is we don’t have to wait until we have every 1A individual classified as long as we are still getting them vaccinated,” McCarthy said. McCarthy said Memorial Hermann could open up for Phase 1B as early as next week but said they are still working on how those eligible will be identified.

HOUSTON – As a COVID-19 vaccine nears approval by the Food and Drug Administration, a Houston-area nurse is encouraging her colleagues to get vaccinated once shipments arrive. Irma Ikalina’s story of what the coronavirus has done to her family serves as the sad and sole reason she’s on a crusade to get people vaccinated. “It’s hard to even talk about it.”Ikalina, her mother, her father, her daughter, and her mother-in-law chose nursing as a profession. Overall, McFarlane stresses Houston-area hospitals have not had as overwhelming an experience treating COVID-19 patients as hospitals in other large cities. “If (a vaccine) could have saved my mother-in-law, my dad, I would have given it to them in a heartbeat,” Ikalina said.