Vaccine Skepticism Sparks Measles Outbreak: Is Your Child at Risk in SC?

In early November, a pop-up clinic operated by the South Carolina Department of Public Health opened in the parking lot of a local library, offering free measles vaccinations to both adults and children. This initiative comes in response to a concerning measles outbreak in Spartanburg County, located in South Carolina’s Upstate region, which has seen over 50 reported cases since October. Despite efforts to encourage unvaccinated individuals to get their shots at various mobile clinic locations across the county, attendance has been lackluster. On one recent Monday afternoon in Boiling Springs, only a single person showed up.

“It’s progress. That progress is slow,”

said Linda Bell, the state epidemiologist with the Department of Public Health, during a recent press briefing.

“We had hoped to see a more robust uptake than that in our mobile health units.”

As South Carolina grapples with its outbreak, public health officials nationwide are increasingly alarmed by the resurgence of measles. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported over 1,700 measles cases and 45 outbreaks in 2025 alone. The most significant outbreak began in Texas, leading to hundreds of infections and the deaths of two children. For the first time in more than two decades, the United States is at risk of losing its measles elimination status, which signifies that outbreaks are rare and quickly contained.

While the situation in South Carolina is not as dire as in states like New Mexico, Arizona, or Kansas, it highlights a troubling trend across the country. Factors such as historically low vaccination rates, skepticism intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic, rampant misinformation, and the “health freedom” ideologies promoted by some conservative politicians have left numerous communities vulnerable to this preventable, yet deadly virus.

“Everyone talks about it being the canary in the coal mine because it’s the most contagious infectious disease out there,”

stated Josh Michaud, associate director for global and public health policy at KFF, a health information nonprofit.

“The logic is indisputable that we’re likely to see more outbreaks.”

Spartanburg County has one of the lowest vaccination rates among South Carolina's 46 counties. According to Chris Lombardozzi, a senior vice president with the Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System, the low vaccination rates existed even before the pandemic. Last year, nearly 6,000 children—10% of total enrollment—received exemptions allowing them to forgo mandatory vaccinations or did not meet vaccination requirements.

Lombardozzi attributed the county's struggles to misinformation that has been circulated through social media and other non-medical channels. The pandemic exacerbated these issues, as skepticism surrounding COVID-19 vaccines spilled over into attitudes towards childhood vaccinations, which had previously been less controversial.

As a result, communities like Spartanburg are more susceptible to "constant, small brush fires of measles outbreaks," Michaud noted. The overall percentage of students in Spartanburg with required immunizations dropped from 95.1% to 90% between the 2020-21 and 2024-25 academic years. Public health officials maintain that at least 95% vaccination coverage is essential to prevent significant measles spread.

South Carolina mandates that children in public and private schools show proof of certain vaccinations, including the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. However, obtaining religious exemptions is relatively easy; the exemption form requires notarization but does not necessitate a doctor's note or any disclosure of the family’s religious beliefs. Over the past decade, the number of students granted religious exemptions in South Carolina has surged, particularly in the Upstate region, where such exemptions increased sixfold. In the 2013-14 school year, 2,044 students were granted exemptions; by fall 2024, that figure had skyrocketed to over 13,000.

Some schools have been disproportionately affected by these trends. The outbreak in South Carolina was largely linked to the Global Academy of South Carolina, a public charter school where only 17% of the 605 enrolled students during the 2024-25 school year provided proof of required vaccinations. Attempts to reach the academy for comment were unsuccessful.

The Role of Misinformation and Political Climate

In April, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. shared on social media that the MMR vaccine is the most effective way to prevent measles transmission. However, his mixed messaging has raised eyebrows, as he has also cast doubt on vaccine safety and falsely linked vaccines to autism. In a 2020 podcast, he expressed regret over vaccinating his children, stating,

“What would I do if I could go back in time and I could avoid giving my children the vaccines that I gave them? I would do anything for that.”

Such statements have fostered an environment where “health freedom,” or the notion of vaccine choice, has gained traction among some Republicans. This has, in turn, led to a chilling effect on public discourse about the ongoing measles outbreaks and the effectiveness of the MMR vaccine. Brandon Charochak, a spokesperson for South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, noted that the governor has expressed that while measles is dangerous, it's not a cause for panic. McMaster has also stated he does not support vaccine mandates.

Despite the South Carolina Department of Public Health's ongoing appeals for measles vaccinations, the agency's outreach has been notably less vigorous than its efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, in 2021, the agency's “Shot and a Chaser” campaign, which offered free beer or soda to those who received a COVID-19 vaccine, garnered public attention, while the measles vaccination drive lacked such promotional flair.

As of mid-November, the mobile health unit had administered only 44 doses of the MMR vaccine from October to mid-November. The final mobile vaccination clinic was scheduled for November 24. However, health officials remain optimistic, noting that overall vaccinations in Spartanburg County have increased, with providers administering more than twice as many measles vaccines in October compared to the previous year.

Quarantine measures remain in place, with over 130 individuals, primarily students, still isolated due to potential exposure. Cases have also been linked to a church and the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport. As the holiday season approaches, health officials are reminding the public that travel can increase exposure risks and are urging those unvaccinated to consider getting vaccinated.