A Fort Worth megachurch pastor is celebrating the low vaccination rate of a school affiliated with his church, which has the lowest measles vaccination rate among schools in Texas. Mercy Culture Preparatory, a K-12 private school next to the church, has a 14.3% MMR vaccination rate, according to state health data.
The school’s low vaccination rate is part of a larger trend in North Texas, where five private schools and one public charter school have less than 50% of kindergarteners vaccinated. This comes as Texas faces a measles outbreak with nearly 160 cases across the state, including a child who died due to lack of vaccination.
The pastor, Landon Schott, posted on Instagram that he is “shoutouting” the school’s low vaccination rate, citing “freedom of health” and “religious freedom.” However, this stance has been criticized by officials, who are urging parents to check their children’s immunization records and schedule vaccinations if needed.
State Rep. Nate Schatzline, who represents a district that includes the megachurch, also shared his concerns about the school’s low vaccination rate in a social media post. He stated that he is upset that the school hasn’t been recognized for its efforts to promote “spiritually healthy” choices over vaccinations.
The situation highlights the ongoing debate around vaccine mandates and personal freedom. While some argue that vaccines are crucial for community immunity, others claim that they can cause harm and that parents have the right to make their own decisions about vaccination. The measles outbreak in Texas serves as a reminder of the importance of herd immunity and the need for widespread vaccination.
Source: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/faith/2025/03/06/fort-worths-mercy-culture-celebrates-school-with-lowest-measles-vaccination-rate-in-texas