Smallpox vaccinations begin

The Metro Public Health Department will begin smallpox vaccinations of public health professionals today.

The Tennessee Department of Health on Tuesday received a shipment of 10,000 doses of smallpox vaccines from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), headquartered in Atlanta, Ga.

Approximately 20 Metro Public Health Department employees are among the public health workers who will receive the first round of vaccinations this week. The vaccinated personnel will then be giving the vaccine to 5,800 health professionals starting Feb. 10.