Lee’s Tone Deaf Health Department Gets Backlash for Pushing Kid Vaccines

Image Credit: readerwalker / CC & TN Dept of Health

The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –

Once again, under Governor Bill Lee’s leadership, the Tennessee Department of Health appears tone deaf in their messaging to the state’s parents.

In a Facebook post last week the department offered up the following statement:

CDC recommends all children ages 5-11 receive a booster vaccine 5 months after completing their primary series. Immunocompromised children 5-11 should receive a booster 3 months after their primary series. 

One parent quickly retorted, “And parents everywhere recommend that the government stop telling us how to vaccinate our kids.”

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Last summer, the Tennessee Department of Health was reprimanded by state lawmakers for marketing the COVID-19 vaccine toward minors and advocating for vaccinating children without parental consent.

“To anyone who is bullying, bribing, shaming, coercing or cajoling an individual into taking the vaccine, I strongly urge you to consult with your legal counsel for potential violations of federal law,” said Senator Kerry Roberts (R-Springfield-District 25) in a Government Operations Committee last July. “It is not appropriate for a state employee to use their authority to coerce a student into receiving the vaccine.”

Dr. Michelle Fiscus lost her position as the top vaccine official in the state last year over a memo outlining Tennessee’s Mature Minor Doctrine which allows minors to be vaccinated in certain situations without getting parental permission first.

While the doctrine has been around since 1987, it is not a popular rule with Tennessee parents. In April, a caption bill that would have allowed minors to receive the HPV vaccine without parental consent was taken off notice after parents called lawmakers to complain.

There was very little positive feedback on Friday’s post parroting CDC’s recommendations for children.

“What other industry can you think of that gets free push, promotion, and advertising from Taxpayer funded agencies while also being completely absolved from liability for injuries and deaths caused by the products produced by said industry?” asked Joy Allison.

Nashville resident Julie Pieper-Hemmings said, “Why would a health agency promote an experimental product that the long term health effects are unknown and the known risks are higher than any possible benefit for children? It isn’t logical from a health or scientific perspective. There needs to be a good reason to take on such risk.” 

Knoxville resident, Cheryl Koch offered a warning, “If you do choose to take this injection, please, please make sure the nurse or pharmacist uses the correct colored tube. It must be diluted. There are too many accidents of late where a double dose was given to a child.”

About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.