Tennessee Halts All Vaccine Outreach To Teens Amid Republican Pressure

The Tennessee Department of Health said it would abandon all of its vaccine outreach to minors.

The department will stop its outreach not just for the COVID-19 vaccine but for all diseases due to the push from GOP state legislators. 

If the state’s health department must share any reports about vaccines, the department’s agents should remove the agency logo from the documents, a department directive instructed.

The department will also cease all vaccine events inside a school or school property. 

Following the report, experts and political figures have expressed their concerns over the state’s decision that could decrease the vaccination rate. Chelsea Clinton, the daughter of Bill and Hillary Clinton, tweeted that the state should stop “capitulating to anti-vaxxers.”

“This is so disturbing,” Clinton said. “Public health officials in Tennessee should be encouraging teenagers to get vaccinated, not capitulating to anti-vaxxers.” 

“Teens who don’t get vaccinated against Covid19 are at greater risk of hospitalization, death, long-haul covid.”

This is so disturbing. Public health officials in Tennessee should be encouraging teenagers to get vaccinated, not capitulating to anti-vaxxers. Teens who don’t get vaccinated against #covid19 are at greater risk of hospitalization, death, long-haul covid. https://t.co/UxT3O99ogt

— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) July 9, 2021