Chen: 'Vaccination Is The Safest Thing You Can Do For Your Children'

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Chen: 'Vaccination Is The Safest Thing You Can Do For Your Children'

开云体育 | By Lynne McCrea,

Alex Keefe

Published February 3, 2015 at 5:21 PM EST

Dr. Harry Chen, pictured here in June 2013, says that although many Vermonters choose not to vaccinate their children on religious or philosophical grounds, the vast majority of children in the state, and the nation, do receive vaccinations.

An outbreak of measles that started at Disneyland has now sickened more than 100 people in 14 states, and stirred up the debate over whether to vaccinate children.In December, a study from the United Health Foundation ranked Vermont as the in the country. But when it comes to the percentage of toddlers who were immunized, Vermont fell to number 37.

Dr. Harry Chen, the commissioner of the Vermont Department of Health, spoke with VPR about the state's vaccination rates.