JACKSON, Miss — Mississippi's top health official said he's receiving threats from people spreading lies about his family as he urges the public to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
Mississippi has seen a rapid increase in cases since early July, driven by the delta variant of the virus and a low vaccination rate.
The state health officer, Dr. Thomas Dobbs, said Tuesday that one "conspiracy theory" is that his son, who is also a physician, receives a World Bank-funded kickback when Dobbs promotes vaccinations.
Dobbs said he receives no money from promoting vaccination.
More than 1,000 out-of-state medical workers are deploying to 50 Mississippi hospitals to help with staffing shortages.
