The U.S. State of Tennessee

Allows:

Medical exemptions
Religious exemptions





TITLE 37 JUVENILES
CHAPTER 10. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
PART 4. CHILDHOOD IMMUNIATIONS

Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-10-401 (2002)

TITLE 37. JUVENILES
CHAPTER 10. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
PART 4. CHILDHOOD IMMUNIZATIONS

Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-10-402 (2002)

37-10-401. Responsibility of parents to have children immunized - Specific vaccines - Immunization registry

(a) It is the responsibility of each parent or legal guardian to ensure that such person's child or children receive the vaccines as are recommended by guidelines of the Center for Disease Control and/or the American Academy of Pediatrics to be administered to a child. The parent or legal guardian is encouraged to obtain the recommended immunizations within the first two (2) years of the child's life. Such vaccines include without limitation, the following specific vaccines:
(1) Diphtheria -tetanus-pertussis (DTP)
(2) Polio: oral polio vaccine (OPV) or inactivated polio vaccine (IPV)
(3) Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR)
(4) Haemophilus influenzae type B conjugate vaccines (Hib)
(5) Hepatitis B vaccine (Hep B)
(6) Pneumoccocal vaccine when medically indicated
(7) Influenza vaccine when medically indicated, and
(8) Varicella when available.
(b) Subject to availability of funding for such purpose, the department of health is authorized to provide fee vaccine, through the first twenty-four (24) months of life, for Tennessee children born after January 1, 1996. If an administration fee is charged by a health provider receiving this vaccine, such fee may not exceed the administration fee established by the health care financing administration under the Vaccines for Children Program established in the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993. No immunization may be withheld due to the family's inability to pay the fee.
(c) The department shall establish and maintain an immunization registry for children. By January 1, 1996, the department shall incrementally require all local public health departments to report, in a designated format, the record of each immunization given. Other health care providers may likewise report such records. Information from the registry shall be available to parents and legal guardians, health care providers, and schools, child care facilities, and other institutions having care or custody of children.
(d) The commissioner of health shall report to the members of the house health and human resources committee, the senate general welfare committee, the select joint committee on children and youth and the TennCare oversight committee, by March 1 of each year, on the immunization rates in each county and improvements or changes made during the preceding year.

TITLE 37. JUVENILES
CHAPTER 10. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
PART 4. CHILDHOOD IMMUNIZATIONS

Tenn Code Ann § 37-10-402 (2002)

37-10-402. Conflict with religious tenets and practices of parent

In the absence of an epidemic or immediate threat thereof, this section does not not apply to any child whose parent or guardian files with proper authorities a signed written statement that such immunization and other preventative measures conflict with the religious tenets and practices of the parent or guardian affirmed under penalties of perjury.