A panel from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention voted this week to include the COVID-19 vaccine in vaccination schedules. But the federal firm did not vote to mandate or mandate the vaccine.
In a tweet Thursday, Gov. Bill Lee took aim at the CDC’s decision, suggesting there was a new requirement that would, however, have no effect in Tennessee.
“I said court orders were the wrong approach, and TN led to delaying federal covid vaccination requirements,” Lee wrote on Twitter. “Thanks to our negotiations with the General Assembly, TN families will not be affected by today’s CDC vote. will continue to defend TN youth and private liberty. “
A CDC advisory committee voted unanimously this week to include the COVID-19 vaccine in the vaccination schedule for children 6 months and older, as well as adults. The organization meets annually to review updates to the program, which for years has asked doctors when to administer a series of widely used vaccines, such as the measles and tetanus vaccine.
The timetable is not a mandate and does not impose any need on States. Vaccine needs, most commonly noted in school vaccination needs, are set across states.
“Set your own vaccination schedules and Tennessee’s won’t change,” said Lee spokeswoman Jade Byers.
Last year, Lee signed into law a legislative package that reverses many of the state’s COVID-19 restrictions. It prohibits government entities, public schools and many personal corporations from adopting vaccination requirements, which would prevent Tennessee public fitness officials from adding the vaccine to their list. of state-required vaccinations for school enrollment.
More: Tennessee Governor Bill Lee’s COVID-19 Legislation
Tennessee, like the rest of the country, has for years demanded certain vaccines for education as an effective public fitness tool. Recently, Tennesseeans who enroll in kindergarten are required to have six vaccines, in addition to vaccines for polio, hepatitis A and B and measles. Medical and devout exemptions are being considered as in some cases.
The Tennessee Department of Health says it takes into account the CDC’s vaccination schedule and approvals from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians when defining vaccine requirements. The AAP and AAFP the COVID-19 vaccine for children.
Asked if Lee would oppose all formative year vaccinations required for school enrollment in Tennessee, given his tweet about a mandate, a spokesperson said his comment was express for COVID-19. positions on past CDC vaccines and the COVID-19 vaccine.
“The governor was obviously talking about covid vaccine mandates, and anyone who suggests anything different is dishonest,” Byers said.
A spokesman for the Tennessee Department of Health declined to answer questions.
Contact Melissa Brown at mabrown@tennessean. com.