Outrage Grows Over Pastor’s Praise of Texas School’s Low MMR Vaccination Rate

Texas pastor Landon Schott is receiving considerable criticism for publicly touting his Christian school's low vaccination record in the midst of a statewide measles outbreak. According to a video that Schott posted on Instagram on Wednesday, Mercy Culture Preparatory's immunization percentage is the lowest in the state of Texas.

Schott claims over Instagram, “A shout-out goes out to MC Prep for having the lowest vaccination rate in Texas!”  Schott's statement in the video has subsequently been met with a great deal of criticism on the internet.

The dispute arises at a time when Texas is struggling to contain an outbreak of measles that has affected more than 150 people across nine counties. Officials from the state have reported that 22 people have been hospitalized, and one youngster who had not been vaccinated has passed away.

Mercy Culture Preparatory has a vaccination rate of only 14.3% for the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, which is much lower than the averages for the state and the nation, as reported by the Texas Department of State Health Services.

Schott's comments have been met with fury, with many people describing them as “embarrassing”, given that children are dying from measles. 

In response to the pastor, users of the social media platform, Instagram, referred to him as a “nutjob” and they urged him to visit a West Texas hospital and see how unvaccinated, breathless children are suffering from measles. 

Schott has 47,000 followers in social media and Instagram. 

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