Tennessee Legislators Are Outraged That Teenagers Might Want to (Checks Notes) Not Get Covid

[Nevilledog]

Link to tweet

https://rudepundit.blogspot.com/2021/07/tennessee-legislators-are-outraged-that.html

The state of Tennessee abides by the "Mature Minor Doctrine" when it comes to almost all medical care. That means that minors between 14 and 18 years-old can see doctors on their own without a parent's permission. The physician or medical provider may decide not to provide care based on a judgment about the maturity of the teenager, but, generally, if you're over 14, you can get medical help (except abortions because, well, Tennessee). A 1987 Tennessee Supreme Court decision clearly put this doctrine in place for the state. Hell, the Tennessee legislature even passed legislation guaranteeing that minors could get medical care without parental consent for things like drug abuse, emergencies, and even contraception. Sometimes, sanity does exist where you least expect it. And then again...

When the Covid vaccine was made available to those 12 and up, Dr. Michelle Fiscus, the medical director for vaccine-preventable diseases and immunization programs at the Tennessee Department of Health, sent guidance to all vaccine providers as a response to inquiries about the applicability of the Mature Minor Doctrine in the case of the Covid vaccine. Prior to sending the email, Dr. Fiscus had contacted the Department of Health's general counsel for a statement she could use for the guidance, and she received an email that had the very document I linked to up there, adding that it had been "blessed by the Governor’s office on the subject" and "feel free to distribute to anyone." So she did.

And, because we live in the stupidest fucking time possible, someone complained and that complaint led to Republicans in the state legislature losing their shit. They attacked Dr. Fiscus and the Department of Health for the letter and for ads that featured kids that read, "Tennesseans 12+ Eligible for Vaccines: Give COVID-19 vaccines a shot." That's pretty much bullying, according to GOP assholes, like Rep. Scott Cepicky from the ass-end of nowhere, who said, "For a department of ours to make it seem like you need a vaccine...to fit in is peer pressure applied by the state of Tennessee. Personally, I think it's reprehensible that you would do that, that you would do that to our youth." Another dumbass, Sen. Janice Bowling from Sisterfuck or Pigass or something, said of the letter, which, again, was sent to vaccine providers in case a 14 year-old came in to get jabbed, "It is very disconcerting to see the letter, or memo, from Dr. Fiscus stating that Tennessee law allows the Department of Health to give vaccinations to children 14 years of age." Except Tennessee law does allow it. Also, Tennessee is way the fuck behind on vaccinations in general, with only 38% of the population fully-vaccinated and the Delta variant starting to kick medical asses.

And, because the stupidest fucking time possible always leads to the stupidest actions possible, the governor fired Dr. Fiscus. In her response to her termination, she wrote an impassioned plea: "I am afraid for my state. I am angry for the amazing people of the Tennessee Department of Health who have been mistreated by an uneducated public and leaders who have only their own interests in mind. And I am deeply saddened for the people of Tennessee, who will continue to become sick and die from this vaccine-preventable disease because they choose to listen to the nonsense spread by ignorant people." Damn straight. Science, motherfuckers.

*snip*

[Docreed2003]

1. K&R

[Hugh_Lebowski]

2. "Sen. Janice Bowling from Sisterfuck or Pigass or something"

"according to GOP assholes, like Rep. Scott Cepicky from the ass-end of nowhere"

I love that fucking guy

[Skittles]

3. Rude Pundit has zero fucks left go give

[calimary]

4. So do I.

[Skittles]

9. oh believe me, I know the feeling

I'm getting very fed up with the way people are behaving and it ain't just the MAGAts

[Hugin]

5. The more they blather, the more I'm convinced they're still PO'ed about the HPV vaccine.

Human papillomavirus = HPV

All of the same arguments.

[struggle4progress]

6. Let them get a COVID vaccination without permission, and next they'll want a tetanus shot!

And where will it end? Flu? Hepatitis? Human papillomavirus? I'm sure you see the problem. I mean, it's just not safe: have you ever noticed how many old people remember getting the polio vaccines? No, if your child is bitten by a wild animal, you should have the right to say, No kid of mine is getting a damn rabies inoculation!

[Hugin]

7. We all know the COVID vaccination is a gateway vaccination.

Pretty soon they'll be doing the hard stuff... Shingrix, man. SHINGRIX!

They'll be laying around in vaccination dens. Bad scene.

[struggle4progress]

8. Vaccination makes you old! You don't see young folk with smallpox vaccination scars!

And you are so right! It's a habit that's hard to break! Just look at all the old people who line up to get pneumococcal vaccines every year!

[Hugin]

10. There's noting sadder than seeing a vax junkie jonesing for a MMR.

In between the exotics like tetanus, meningitis-b, and rabies. When they can get a hit.

The annual flu boosters are only a maintenance dose.

What a life.