Governor Bill Lee announced Thursday that Tennessee would not require COVID-19 vaccines for children to go to school in response to the recommendation made by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Governor Bill Lee announced on Facebook, “I’ve always said mandates are the wrong approach, and Tennessee has led in pushing back on federal covid vaccine requirements. Thanks to our work with the General Assembly, Tennessee families won’t be impacted by today’s CDC vote. We’ll continue to stand for Tennessee children and for personal freedom.”
The CDC unanimously voted on Thursday to recommend the COVID-19 vaccine as a school-entry requirement, but the final decision for the vaccination requirement will come down to the individual states.
A CDC press release states, “CDC only makes recommendations for use of vaccines, while school-entry vaccination requirements are determined by state or local jurisdictions.”
Other states have informed the public that they will not abide by the CDC’s recommendation.
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin stated on Twitter, “COVID-19 mandates should be in our rear-view mirror. The decision to vaccinate a child against COVID-19 is for Virginia parents to make about what’s best for them and their family. We will not adhere to these CDC mandates. In Virginia, parents matter.”
COVID-19 mandates should be in our rear view mirror. The decision to vaccinate a child against COVID-19 is for Virginia parents to make about what’s best for them and their family. We will not adhere to these @CDCgov mandates.
In Virginia, parents matter.
— Governor Glenn Youngkin (@GovernorVA) October 21, 2022
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis also responded to the CDC recommendation, stating, “As long as I am Governor in Florida, there will not be a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for children in our schools.”
As long as I am Governor, in Florida there will not be a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for children in our schools. pic.twitter.com/oDXAj3c4Oy
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) October 20, 2022
Lee received some counter-responses from people such as Dr. Michelle Fiscus, a former vaccine official for Tennessee, saying that Lee is incorrect in saying that the CDC can mandate vaccines. However, Lee never stated that the CDC could require vaccines in Tennessee; he said that Tennessee would not follow the CDC’s suggestion to mandate them.
Dr. Fiscuss took to Twitter to say, “It would be great if Bill Lee took the time to understand the ACIP votes. It has nothing to do with mandates. The ACIP voted to allow the COVID-19 vaccine to be provided through the Vaccines for Children program so kids can still it when it goes commercial.
It would be great if @BillLeeTN took the time to understand the ACIP votes. It has nothing to do with mandates. The ACIP voted to allow the COVID-19 vaccine to be provided through the Vaccines for Children program so kids can still get it when it goes commercial. 1/2 https://t.co/gCK2A5l6lK
— Michelle Fiscus MD,FAAP 🌻💉❤️🌈 (@drfixus) October 20, 2022
Dr. Fiscuss continued, saying, “The ACIP also recommended the inclusions of the COVID-19 vaccines in the routine childhood immunization schedule. There is no federal COVID vaccine requirement. As Bill Lee should know (right?), states make the rules about what’s required for school, not ACIP/CDC.”
The ACIP also recommended the inclusions of COVID-19 vaccines in the routine childhood immunization schedule. There is no federal COVID vaccine requirement. As @BillLeeTN should know (right?), states make the rules about what's required for school, not ACIP/CDC
— Michelle Fiscus MD,FAAP 🌻💉❤️🌈 (@drfixus) October 20, 2022
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Kaitlyn Osteen is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Send Kaitlyn tips at [email protected].
Photo “Bill Lee” by Gov. Bill Lee. Background Photo “COVID-19 Vaccine” by Braňo.
