Knox County Health Department urges people to vaccinate against measles

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Vaccine skepticism has been spreading across the United States for decades, and since the COVID-19 pandemic the anti-vax movement has reached new heights. And as the anti-vaccine movement grows, measles has spread with it.

So why has measles not spread in East Tennessee? 6 News spoke with Knox County Health Department to find out why.

Kindergarten vaccination rates on the decline in Tennessee

“Luck and a decent vaccination rate,” said Public Health Officer Dr. Megan Edwards. “So we have about 93% when we look at kids countywide, controlling for all the different schools.”

Edwards said that 90% of people vaccinated for measles never contract the virus…

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