Tennessee won’t include COVID-19 vaccine in immunization schedule, Gov. Bill Lee says
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention did not vote this week to require children to receive the COVID-19 vaccine or issue federal vaccine requirements, despite Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee’s Thursday tweet suggesting otherwise.
“I’ve always said mandates are the wrong approach, & TN has led in pushing back on federal covid vaccine requirements,” Lee wrote on Twitter. “Thanks to our work with the General Assembly, TN families won’t be impacted by today’s CDC vote. We’ll continue to stand for TN children & for personal freedom.”
A CDC advisory panel this week unanimously voted to add the COVID-19 vaccine to the recommended vaccination schedule for children 6 months and older, as well as for adults. The panel meets annually to consider updates to the schedule, which has for years advised doctors on when to administer a number of widely used vaccines, such as for measles and tetanus.
The recommended schedule is not a mandate nor does it enact any requirements on states. Vaccine requirements, most often seen in school immunization requirements, are set by states.
“States determine their own immunization schedule, and Tennessee’s will not be changing,” Lee spokesperson Jade Byers said.
Lee last year signed into law a legislative package rolling back many of the state’s COVID-19 restrictions. It bans government entities, public schools and many private businesses from enacting vaccine requirements, which would block Tennessee public health officials from adding the vaccine to its list of state-required immunizations for school enrollment.
More:Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signs sweeping COVID-19 legislation into law
Tennessee, like the rest of the country, has for years required certain immunizations for school enrollment as a safe and effective public health tool. Tennesseans enrolling in kindergarten currently must have six vaccinations, including immunization against polio, Hepatitis A and B, and the measles. Medical and religious exemptions are considered in some cases.
The Tennessee Department of Health states it considers the CDC’s vaccination schedule and endorsements from the American Academy of Pediatrics and American Academy of Family Physicians when setting vaccine requirements. Both the AAP and the AAFP recommend the COVID-19 vaccine for children.
When asked if Lee would oppose all childhood vaccines required for Tennessee school enrollment, given his tweet about a mandate, a spokesperson said his comment was specific to COVID-19. His office has not yet responded to further questions regarding Lee’s deferring positions on vaccines previously recommended by the CDC and the COVID-19 vaccine.
“The Governor was clearly talking about Covid vaccine mandates, and anyone suggesting otherwise is being dishonest,” Byers said.
A Tennessee Department of Health spokesperson declined to answer questions.
Reach Melissa Brown at mabrown@tennessean.com.
