Measles vaccine clinic held amid outbreak

By Sanjana Ramineni     3/25/25 9:53pm

Rice held a measles, mumps and rubella vaccine clinic March 20 in response to the growing measles outbreak in Texas. The clinic was a partnership between Rice Emergency Management and Albertsons/Randalls that sought to provide additional protection to faculty, staff and students who may not be fully vaccinated.

A measles outbreak in the South Plains and Panhandle regions of Texas has resulted in 327 cases, 40 hospitalizations and one fatality, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. Despite efforts by health professionals to contain the measles outbreak, it continues to spread.

Measles is highly contagious — even more infectious than COVID-19 — and can lead to serious complications, including hospitalization and death. Symptoms include fever, rash and flu-like symptoms. 

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Due to widespread vaccination, measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000. Scattered infections reported afterward were typically tied to international travel or declining immunization rates in certain communities. 

A majority of the cases in the outbreak were in people who were unvaccinated or were unsure about their vaccination status, according to the CDC.

Jessica McKelvey, the director of Student Health Services, said 99.99% of full-time, on-campus students have received their MMR vaccination.

The latest measles case in Houston occurred in March and involved an unvaccinated infant exposed to measles during international travel. 

The Rice clinic, which took place during spring break, was timed to make the MMR vaccine accessible to faculty and staff who may not have had the opportunity to update their immunization records. 

Two hours into the event, Deputy Director of Emergency Management Lach Mullen reported a strong turnout. 

“We’re on track, and we’ve had around 220 appointments scheduled. So far, we had people showing up for their window,” Mullen said.

Faculty and staff made up the majority of attendees. Among the attendees was President Reggie DesRoches, who said he chose to receive the vaccine both to protect himself and to support the broader Rice community. 

“I think I had [the MMR shot] before but couldn’t pull up my documents. My wife works in healthcare — she said just go ahead and get it,” DesRoches said.

DesRoches’ uncertainty over his immunization history is not uncommon. Many adults born between 1957 and 1989 may have only received a single dose of the MMR vaccine in childhood, leaving them more vulnerable to measles.

According to the CDC, people born after 1957 should get at least one MMR shot if they have never had measles — or if they do not have written documentation or other proof of immunity. 

One dose of the MMR vaccine is 93% effective against measles, and two doses are 97% effective, according to the CDC.

“Students have to have the MMR vaccine to attend here unless they signed a student waiver. So almost all students have it already,” Mullen said. 

Rice Emergency Management is now encouraging students who have signed a student waiver to consider getting the MMR vaccine.

DesRoches praised the organization of the event.

“It was extremely efficient. Took about seven minutes — in and out,” DesRoches said.

The high demand raises the possibility of another clinic in the future, Mullen said.

"We're definitely taking a look at the community needs, and we’re encouraged to see demand this high,” Mullen said.

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