Mercy Culture preparatory, a church school located in Fort Worth, Texas, was identified as having the lowest vaccination rate in the State. In reaction, a Mercy Culture pastor said the accomplishment was worth celebrating, because it “embraces freedom of health.”
A video was posted on Instagram by Landon Schott in which he expressed his pride upon finding out Mercy culture preparatory’s vaccination rate was 14.29%, situating the school as the least vaccinated in Texas. Far from urging church members to be aware of the dangers of measles and the urgent need for public health procedures such as vaccination, the pastor expressed the opposite, by posing with a “number 1 school in Texas” t-shirt. “For least vaccinations,” he specified, with a smile on his face and balloons on his desk.
In addition, he congratulated the families from Mercy Culture for these actions. “They’re (the unvaccinated) not allowing the government or science projects to affect how you live and lead your life,” Schott said. “I know the entire world was shut down with insanity and people were fired from their jobs for forced vaccinations, and freedom is something we take seriously. Shoutout to MC Prep for being the least vaccinated school in Texas.”
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that can lead to serious health complications in children. While most children recover, approximately 30% may experience several complications, some of which can be severe or even fatal.
Severe Complications:
- Pneumonia: Approximately 1 in 20 children with measles develops pneumonia, the most common cause of measles-related deaths in young children.
- Encephalitis: About 1 in 1,000 children may suffer from brain inflammation, leading to convulsions and potential deafness or intellectual disabilities.
- Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE): A rare but fatal degenerative disease of the central nervous system that can occur years after the initial measles infection. SSPE has been estimated to affect approximately 2 in 10,000 individuals who had measles, with higher rates (up to 1 in 609) in unvaccinated infants under 15 months.
For every 1,000 children who contract measles, 1 or 2 will die from complications.
The Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine is highly effective in preventing measles and its associated complications. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that children receive two doses of the MMR vaccine: the first dose at 12-15 months of age and the second at 4-6 years, as reported by AP news.
