| Howdy Y'all, here's the talk from TIP. This is The Immunization Partnership's newsletter, The Upshot. In it we talk about policy, community engagement, and education, and feature our allies as well as the most recent and salient news about vaccines and vaccine-preventable diseases. |
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| Message from our Executive Director, Terri Burke |
| Filling the Vacuum The measles broke out in the South Plains. The Texas Legislature opened its 89th session. A nationally known anti-vaxxer took charge at Health and Human Services. Federal budget cuts began, slashing grant programs that supported public health. Texas lawmakers filed nearly 60 anti-vaccine bills. None proposed using the state’s bulging rainy day fund to replace lost federal support. And it’s only August. |
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| As new laws and federal actions take effect, The Immunization Partnership is reflecting on the leadership vacuum we’ve been filling—and what the urgency of now demands. While some of us worked to block harmful legislation, others supported public health allies in the South Plains, West Texas, and the Panhandle with fact sheets, PSAs, and our “Don’t Wait. Vaccinate, Texas.” campaign. We educated older Texans about vaccines that protect their health — and gave them tools to talk to their adult children about vaccinating the grandkids. In San Antonio, we partnered with the public health department to reach underserved communities with life-saving immunization education. Our Scientific Advisory Council, partner physicians, and staff appeared in media over 60 times, explaining new laws and the consequences of preventable diseases like measles. We’re not backing down. Texans still believe in immunizations — especially for their children. As the only statewide organization dedicated to promoting strong immunization policies, TIP will continue to defend against attacks from a small but vocal minority. We’re a small, fearless team. Join us — whether with your voice, your dollars, or both. And yes, we’re determined to have fun while doing it. Our upcoming luncheon won’t be Saturday Night Live or Monty Python—but it will be fun. “Vaccine Follies: A Musical Revue of Science and Success” hits the stage Sept. 26 at Hotel ZaZa Museum District. Expect singing, comedy, and no long speeches—a chance to reconnect and celebrate in the face of dark days for public health. There’ll even be a sing-along. As Mary Poppins might have sung (if she’d known the words): When the flu bites, when the trolls fight, When I'm feeling glum, I simply remember my immunized things, And then I don't feel so dumb. Be there. You won’t want to miss it.  |
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| | Save the Date: 2025 Vaccine Follies – A Musical Revue of Science and Success We’re excited to invite you to TIP’s signature annual luncheon: the 2025 Vaccine Follies – A Musical Revue of Science and Success. This celebratory gathering brings together community leaders, health advocates, and supporters to honor achievements in immunization and reinforce our shared commitment to protecting public health across Texas. Date & Time: Friday, Sept. 26 from 11:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Location: Hotel Zaza, Houston Museum District Honoring Public Health Leadership We are proud to recognize the following distinguished honorees for their outstanding contributions to immunization and public health: - Lindy McGee, MD, Assistant Professor, Baylor College of Medicine
Recipient of the Ralph D. Feigin, MD Award for Excellence - The Baker Institute for Public Policy
Recipient of the John R. Boettiger, Jr. Award for Community Partnership Why Attend? This event is more than just a luncheon—it’s an opportunity to celebrate science, inspire collaboration, and invest in our collective health future. Guests will enjoy a unique program featuring a musical performance with lighthearted parody lyrics, highlighting the importance and success of vaccines through the power of song and storytelling. Your presence directly supports TIP’s mission to educate, advocate, and foster partnerships that help keep Texans healthy and protected. How to Participate: - Tickets & Sponsorships: Reserve your seat or become an event sponsor—packages are available now.
- Donate: Can’t attend? Visit our event page to explore other ways to support TIP’s mission.
- Check out our event page here.
Join us for a memorable afternoon of connection, celebration and commitment to immunization advocacy. |
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| | After the Floods, Texans Should Be Asking Tough Questions — and Connecting the Dots After the July floods, Texans should be asking tough questions about whether our state is truly prepared for the next public health emergency. The safety net many assume is in place — for floods, outbreaks and other disasters — is quietly unraveling, particularly in public health. That unraveling is evident in the fact that federal grants funding vaccine access, community response and hospital surge coordination are now only two-thirds funded — and for how long is uncertain. Programs like the CDC’s Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) initiative and the Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) are critical to vaccine stockpiling, outbreak response and rapid deployment in a crisis. Staffing chaos in Washington — CDC leadership was vacant for months and several top HHS posts remain awaiting Senate confirmation — is stalling decisions and leaving states without clear guidance. The uncertainty, compounded by the sudden recall of COVID-era funding that served well beyond pandemic response, is trickling down to city and county health departments across Texas. Cuts to research funding add to the problem. Institutions such as UTMB Galveston — a national authority on vaccine development and pandemic modeling — have lost millions in NIH funding. That puts at risk early-warning systems for emerging infectious diseases. The negative impacts are already being felt across Texas. El Paso has paused outbreak-response programs. Dallas County has laid off 25 public health workers. Laredo was forced to cancel Operation Border Health, leaving nearly 5,800 Texans without free medical, dental and vision care. Rural counties have scaled back immunization services or shuttered health departments altogether, eroding the vaccine response systems communities rely on. The greatest danger is not connecting the dots: pandemic surveillance dismantled, vaccination plans shelved, immunization staff let go. That’s why, now more than ever, Texas needs The Immunization Partnership — and supporters like you who can help spread the word. Many Texans are only now beginning to connect the dots, and together we can make sure public health preparedness is prioritized before the next disaster strikes.  Take Action
Together we can build a safer Texas: Watch and share our Connecting the Dots video with your colleagues to help spread the word about why public health preparedness matters. |
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| | ‘Vaccines and Texas Voices’ Drive Statewide Conversations on Immunization This summer, TIP has been on the road with “Vaccines and Texas Voices,” breaking down the latest legislative action on immunizations and public health with supporters in Austin, Houston and Lubbock – and to plan what’s next. Public health professionals, pediatricians, pharmacists, school nurses and educators showed up with questions, energy and resolve to support policies that protect Texas communities from vaccine preventable diseases. The program kicked off in Austin, where attendees flagged the challenge of stretched public health infrastructure exacerbated by federal funding holdups. In Houston, participants expressed concerns about rising non-medical exemption rates – an issue that contributed to the current measles outbreak in West Texas. In Lubbock, where health professionals treated many measles cases, TIP heard from immunization supporters who want clear, consistent policies that keep kids in class and outbreaks out of schools. TIP sends special thanks to supporters Eloise Sutherland, Heather Cook and Dr. Ana Montanez. They shared frontline stories as advocates who testified this year at the Texas Capitol against immunization policies that will create conditions for disease outbreaks. TIP is headed to San Antonio on Sept. 16 to continue the dialogue. This is a chance to connect with local advocates, share your perspective and learn how you can help protect strong immunization policies in Texas. When: Sept. 16, 2025 from noon to 1:15 p.m.
Where: Lockwood (Youth Center)
801 N. Olive
San Antonio, TX 78202 Visit our website for information on how you can register to attend “Vaccines and Texas Voices” in San Antonio: https://immunizeusa.salsalabs.org/salegedebrief25/index.html. |
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| Vaccine News Public health is always top of mind for TIP. Here are some of the top stories from the past two months: |
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| | Policy Time for Math, Not Measles It’s back-to-school season in Texas, and educators are rolling out lesson plans while learners are preparing for the new year. School immunization requirements continue to play a vital role in protecting students, teachers and communities from preventable diseases. High immunization rates make it possible for kids to learn in safe and healthy classrooms. However, HB 1586 passed the Legislature this year, opening the door for more unvaccinated kids in classrooms. The new law lowers the bar to get an exemption, which will lead to an increased risk of disease outbreaks. For parents, this means missed work and worry; for children it means illness, missed school days, and cancelled extra-curricular activities. Cutting corners on exemptions may look like efficiency to some, but the real cost could be a resurgence of measles just as Texas is emerging from the worst outbreak in a generation. We owe it to our kids to let those hard-won lessons guide us toward stronger protections. Call to Action HB 1586 has moved into the agency rulemaking phase, and this is where your voice matters. The Texas Department of State Health Services will determine how the new law is carried out and your input is vital. Your comments can shape how Texas protects kids from preventable diseases. Weigh in now by going here for more information. |
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| | Community Engagement & Education Advancing Immunization Awareness: Summer Community Outreach This summer, The Immunization Partnership (TIP) continued its commitment to vaccine education through community-based events and professional trainings across Texas. In July, TIP hosted another impactful Wellness Initiative for Senior Empowerment (WISE) event at Pinnacle Senior Center in Fort Bend County. The event, designed as an informal coffee conversation, provided older adults with accessible, trusted information about immunizations while encouraging questions and dialogue. That same month, TIP led three virtual motivational interviewing training sessions for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians at Walgreens locations across Texas and New Mexico. These interactive trainings focused on equipping pharmacy professionals with communication tools to improve vaccine confidence among patients, with a particular emphasis on empathy and listening techniques. In August, TIP joined Community Health Choice on their Community Cares radio show to share back-to-school vaccine reminders and promote immunization access. TIP was also featured on Growing Up in America, a radio program by Children at Risk, where we discussed recent changes in immunization policy and what they mean for students and families preparing for the new school year. TIP was proud to participate in a Back-to-School event with Texas Southern University (TSU) in Spring, where we provided vaccine education to more than 55 families. Additionally, we joined Woori Juntos at their Vaccine and Health Services Drive held at the Korean Community Center—offering education and support to families receiving immunizations. |
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| | | TIP Website Gets Makeover! Check our new and refreshed website! We’ve made it easier to navigate, keep you up to date where we are and what we are doing, and how you can lend your voice and passion for science, community, and action. |
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| The Immunization Partnership advocates for disease prevention using an impactful network of vaccine champions who promote education and evidence-based public policy on the health benefits of childhood and adult vaccinations. TIP aspires to be the trusted resource for increasing immunization rates to create healthier communities. |
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| 281-400-3689 | P.O. Box 346, Houston, TX 77001 |
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