NBC News In an NBC News data investigation of 31 states, about 70% of counties and jurisdictions fell below the target vaccination rate needed for community protection. At just 2 weeks old, Feleena Owens was struggling to breathe.
The newborn was coughing so badly, her skin turned a sickly gray-blue color. Her face contorted as she tried to gulp air.
“I think the longest she would stop breathing was about 10, 11 seconds,” said her mother, Sophie Owens, 24.
Soon, Feleena was airlifted to Dallas, about 80 miles away from the small city of Sulphur Springs, Texas, near where the Owenses lived at the time.