The vast majority of Republican voters in Texas want children to be vaccinated before they begin school, according to a new poll commissioned by the Texas Public Health Coalition, the Houston Chronicle reports.
The poll shows more than 80 percent of Texas Republicans support children being vaccinated before starting school, despite some GOP legislators introducing bills that make it easier for parents to opt out of vaccinations.
- 86 percent of GOP primary voters support requiring children be immunized to attend public school.
- 10 percent oppose a requirement.
- 4 percent do not know.
- 79 percent support a law requiring public schools report the number of unvaccinated children enrolled.
- 16 percent oppose such a law.
- 5 percent do not know.
"Given the increasing number of Texans opting out and all the noise out there, it's comforting to see such huge numbers of Republican voters support the protection of schoolchildren from disease and the role of government in this area," Texas Public Health Coalition chairman Dr. John Carlo said. "Republican lawmakers should have nothing to fear from extremists who don't reflect the views of most of their party's voters."
"Based on last legislative session, I am not particularly optimistic about passing pro-vaccine legislation," said state Rep. Sarah Davis, a Republican who represents a district located in Houston and includes the Texas Medical Center.
"I'll certainly try. Unfortunately, I don't see things changing much unless the state suffers from a vaccine preventable epidemic of some sort. Until Texans who support common sense vaccination requirements become more politically engaged, I think the best we can do is try and stop further anti-vax initiatives."
The poll was conducted by Ragnar Research Partner from July 7-10, surveying 750 Texas voters in the 2018 GOP primary elections by phone, with a margin of error of plus or minus percent.
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