How a new law is complicating vaccines for children in Tennessee

[Jilly_in_VA]

When Sheri LeVan took her 4-year-old grandson to his annual well-child visit in June, it seemed like an appropriate time to get the standard vaccines Tennessee requires for pre-Kindergarten enrollment.

But the doctor's office refused to administer the range of vaccines, which protect from debilitating diseases such as polio and measles, citing a new state law that medical professionals and child advocates in Tennessee now say is complicating once-routine medical care for potentially thousands of children who are not under the care of their biological parents.

The law, sponsored by Republican lawmakers who resisted vaccination requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic, requires doctors to obtain "informed consent" from the parent or legal guardian of a minor before administering a vaccine.

Though it was lauded by some as a parental rights law, physician advocates say confusion surrounding the law, and how to apply it, can leave responsible guardians like LeVan unable to consent to routine medical care for the children under their charge.

Meanwhile, the Department of Children's Services is effectively hamstrung by the law, which requires biological parental rights to be irrevocably terminated before DCS can seek a vaccine for a child in its care. Though more than 8,900 children are under the state's custody, DCS only has full legal guardianship to legally consent for about 10% of those children.

https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/politics/2023/08/16/tennessee-law-limiting-minor-vaccine-approval-is-pervasive-problem-for-doctors-caregivers/70588999007/

The utter stupidity of RepubliKKKan politicians is going to kill children!

[yardwork]

1. This is really bad.

[70sEraVet]

2. And the school year is already in full swing in Tennessee.

A LOT of folks in Tennessee have been convinced that vaccines are some evil, deep-state plot.