TACCHO

The Texas Association of City & County Health Officials (TACCHO) is the premier member organization serving both Texas Local Public Health Officials and the Departments which they lead in order to enhance Local Public Health practice in Texas with the ultimate goal of improving the health of Texans.

Tuberculosis Control & Prevention – Texas ranked #2 among U.S. states with the most TB in 2022. Texas experienced a 12% increase in TB cases from 2022–2023. The number of U.S. tuberculosis cases in 2023 were the highest in a decade and estimate as many as 13 million Americans have latent TB – CDC. 

Childhood Immunization Services – One-third of Texas children are not fully protected against seven vaccine preventable diseases and is ranked 43rd in the nation for the percentage of young children who have received timely recommended vaccinations - 2023. Childhood vaccinations across the U.S. fell for a second year in a row, leaving hundreds of thousands of kids vulnerable to otherwise preventable illnesses – 2023.

STI/HIV & Congenital Syphilis – Texas has the second-highest rate of new HIV infections in the country – 2023. Syphilis cases across Texas rose by 22%, from 2020 to 2022. The number of reported Congenital Syphilis cases in Texas increased by 313% between 2017 and 2021.  

Funding for these Public Health Priorities has been stagnant for over a decade.

TACCHO provides statements by the collective voice of TACCHO Members on public health issues. To see what TACCHO public health priorities are, go to Advocacy.

Fall and Winter Season Illness Prevention Recommendations

With flu and COVID-19 circulating this season, getting a flu vaccine is more important than ever. The Department of State Health Services recommends eligible Texans protect themselves and their families by getting a flu shot as soon as possible. It takes the body about two weeks to make flu antibodies after vaccine administration, so early vaccination is crucial.

For more information about influenza and how to protect against flu illness, visit dshs.texas.gov/influenza-flu. You can also contact your doctor, local health department or pharmacy to learn where you can get your flu shot or use the vaccine finder at Vaccines.gov to locate where flu shots are available.

For more information visit the website of the local health department serving your community. TACCHO Member LHDs are listed at the Member Organization site.

More information can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at this link.