@ GOP pressures Tennessee to end vaccine outreach for kids

[smock]

Warning: this story is bonkers.

"The Tennessee Department of Health will halt all adolescent vaccine outreach – not just for coronavirus, but all diseases – amid pressure from Republican state lawmakers, according to an internal report and agency emails obtained by the Tennessean. If the health department must issue any information about vaccines, staff are instructed to strip the agency logo off the documents."

www.tennessean.com/story/news/health/2021/07/13/tennessee-halts-all-vaccine-outreach-minors-not-just-covid-19/7928701002/

That also means no COVID-19 vaccine clinics at schools, no flu shots at schools, and minors won't even get a postcard to remind them to get their second COVID vaccine shot. All because far right state legislators threatened to dissolve the entire health department. Is it time to start calling the GOP a death cult?

[rubytue]

Sometimes, I can believe this is the state I grew up in.

Correction, frequently.

eta: my entire school years, my senators were Jim Sasser and Al Gore. Although, realistically, probably held by dems because if the historic southern Democratic Party 🥴

[erbear]

What is the end goal of this? Seriously - what are they hoping to gain? If there’s one thing that will derail the GOP base, it’s got to be seriously ill children.

[gretchenindisguise]

But pro life.

[gretchenindisguise]

Jul 13, 2021 17:46:57 GMT -5 rubytue said:

Sometimes, I can believe this is the state I grew up in.

Correction, frequently.

eta: my entire school years, my senators were Jim Sasser and Al Gore. Although, realistically, probably held by dems because if the historic southern Democratic Party 🥴

I feel the same about MO.

[rubytue]

Statement from a now fired, vaccine official
www.tennessean.com/story/news/health/2021/07/12/covid-19-tennessee-fired-vaccine-official-michelle-fiscus-fears-state/7945291002/

[Velar Fricative]

Jul 13, 2021 19:38:26 GMT -5 erbear said:

What is the end goal of this? Seriously - what are they hoping to gain? If there’s one thing that will derail the GOP base, it’s got to be seriously ill children.

Votes. Specifically, today’s votes so that despite their supporters dying of polio and smallpox in the future, they can solidify their power so it outlasts their supporters.

[NewOrleans]

😵‍💫

[NewOrleans]

Jul 13, 2021 20:52:22 GMT -5 jeaniebueller said:

Jul 13, 2021 19:38:26 GMT -5 erbear said:

What is the end goal of this? Seriously - what are they hoping to gain? If there’s one thing that will derail the GOP base, it’s got to be seriously ill children.

It’s literally ‘spreading and catching Covid to own the libs.’

it’s ALL vaccines, not just Covid vax 

[mysteriouswife]

I am trying to understand what in the hell happened. As a citizen in TN I cannot wait to get Lee out. I hope as more CA residents move here we can change more blue.

[mysteriouswife]

Jul 13, 2021 21:26:51 GMT -5 Stan said:

Jul 13, 2021 20:58:33 GMT -5 mysteriouswife said:

I am trying to understand what in the hell happened. As a citizen in TN I cannot wait to get Lee out. I hope as more CA residents move here we can change more blue.

I just sort of moved there (I'm away for work and won't be there permanently until the end of 2022) and my spouse who grew up there never voted before we got married, so there's two more votes. I was going to keep my residency in NC for the Senate race until I got home from my work trip at the end of next year. Is there any chance Lee could lose? Should I change my residency now? I'll be there for a month this fall before I'm out of the country and could register then. 

It’s too early to tell. Election isn’t until Nov. 22. I honestly believe it can go either way.

[notsopicky]

What in the ACTUAL fuck is going on in this damn state? Pro-life, my asshole. Pro-stupidity & drunk on power, maybe.

JFC.

[seeyalater52]

This is sick. Tennessee makes me really sad sometimes. It’s one of the only states I work in that is actively moving to the right and getting more red politically year to year. It’s sad to contrast with states like GA, TX and even FL that are at least making some political inroads.

[karinothing]

Super timely that this article came out then.

www.newsweek.com/mississippi-official-urges-caution-10-children-put-life-support-delta-variant-1609380

[sent]

Do TN parents have to submit a vaccine record to enroll their kids in school? That would be one reminder the kids are due for vaccines. Otherwise it sounds like the onus is now on doctors and nurses in private practices (for the kids that have been going to one) and hospitals (when the babies are born) to educate the parents that they need to return for vaccines. "Smaller government" (by discontinuing the program) and shifting the responsibility onto private entities. Sounds like the red state playbook.

[mysteriouswife]

Jul 14, 2021 12:08:25 GMT -5 sent said:

Do TN parents have to submit a vaccine record to enroll their kids in school? That would be one reminder the kids are due for vaccines. Otherwise it sounds like the onus is now on doctors and nurses in private practices (for the kids that have been going to one) and hospitals (when the babies are born) to educate the parents that they need to return for vaccines. "Smaller government" (by discontinuing the program) and shifting the responsibility onto private entities. Sounds like the red state playbook.

We do. My daughter had an allergic reaction at 4 with vaccines. She is not fully vaccinated. When we moved back it was hell getting her enrolled. We had to provide her medical records from GA and see a TN physician and allergist. I finally provided copies of pictures to put in her school file to prove she cannot be vaccinated.

Fun fact... last year Lee adopted vaccination awareness month due to lack of vaccines during covid.

[5kcandlesinthewind]

Jul 14, 2021 6:55:41 GMT -5 seeyalater52 said:

This is sick. Tennessee makes me really sad sometimes. It’s one of the only states I work in that is actively moving to the right and getting more red politically year to year. It’s sad to contrast with states like GA, TX and even FL that are at least making some political inroads.

I have family there, and it is so disturbing to watch. My uncle (my mom's brother) and his wife are refusing to get vaccinated, even though she works in a hospital and he has just finished treatment for cancer.  (Though it's unclear if that may have precluded him from getting it before now -he won't tell anybody anything.)  My mom keeps asking him why not, and he keeps telling her it's because of "all the stuff they're seeing", but wouldn't tell her where or what he's seeing.  My mom told me she talked to him the other day and pushed him again, and he told her it doesn't matter if he's vaccinated because he "doesn't really go anywhere."  Again. His wife WORKS IN A HOSPITAL. It's maddening, and this sort of thing certainly isn't going to help them - or others like them- see sense.

[sonrisa]

Jul 14, 2021 7:18:04 GMT -5 karinothing said:

Super timely that this article came out then.

www.newsweek.com/mississippi-official-urges-caution-10-children-put-life-support-delta-variant-1609380

And yet we have another thread all about how covid doesn't affect kids.

[gretchenindisguise]

I wonder what vaccine outreach traditionally looks like.

We somehow got behind on our eldests for no real reason. I can only assume it was office error - we were going to doctor appointments as scheduled.

[neverfstop]

From TPM -

In Tennessee's hard move away not only from COVID vaccine outreach but all vaccine this directive stands out to me: "no outreach whatsoever regarding the HPV vaccine."

[mysteriouswife]

Jul 14, 2021 15:52:04 GMT -5 gretchenindisguise said:

I wonder what vaccine outreach traditionally looks like.

We somehow got behind on our eldests for no real reason. I can only assume it was office error - we were going to doctor appointments as scheduled.

Historically, flu and childhood boosters were offered at the schools in rural areas. Metro Nashville held drives before school in different areas. I am not sure if this was still the case in prior years, but from the chatter I am hearing it was. When I was a kid all my vaccines were given at school. I graduated in early 2000’s.

[rubytue]

Jul 14, 2021 13:49:18 GMT -5 5kcandlesinthewind said:

Jul 14, 2021 6:55:41 GMT -5 seeyalater52 said:

This is sick. Tennessee makes me really sad sometimes. It’s one of the only states I work in that is actively moving to the right and getting more red politically year to year. It’s sad to contrast with states like GA, TX and even FL that are at least making some political inroads.

I have family there, and it is so disturbing to watch. My uncle (my mom's brother) and his wife are refusing to get vaccinated, even though she works in a hospital and he has just finished treatment for cancer.  (Though it's unclear if that may have precluded him from getting it before now -he won't tell anybody anything.)  My mom keeps asking him why not, and he keeps telling her it's because of "all the stuff they're seeing", but wouldn't tell her where or what he's seeing.  My mom told me she talked to him the other day and pushed him again, and he told her it doesn't matter if he's vaccinated because he "doesn't really go anywhere."  Again. His wife WORKS IN A HOSPITAL. It's maddening, and this sort of thing certainly isn't going to help them - or others like them- see sense.

FWIW, my cancer center has signs everywhere that vaccination is recommended for everyone except allogenic stem cell transplant (Donor stem cells) and CAR-T. Those two it says to talk to your doctor. 

[rubytue]

OMFG, somone sent her an actual muzzle shortly before she was fired.

www.tennessean.com/story/news/health/2021/07/14/fired-tennessee-vaccine-official-michelle-fiscus-mailed-muzzle/7971748002/

[basilosaurus]

Jul 14, 2021 12:08:25 GMT -5 sent said:

Do TN parents have to submit a vaccine record to enroll their kids in school? That would be one reminder the kids are due for vaccines. Otherwise it sounds like the onus is now on doctors and nurses in private practices (for the kids that have been going to one) and hospitals (when the babies are born) to educate the parents that they need to return for vaccines. "Smaller government" (by discontinuing the program) and shifting the responsibility onto private entities. Sounds like the red state playbook.

I know Vanderbilt Children's hospital has an extensive well-child checkup program up to I believe age 6, and people come from pretty far for them. I used to volunteer with the program. So, that gets them at least started on vaccines. But what about the 10 yo boosters? HPV? Flu? Covid? This goes so far beyond anti-science into solidifying GQP as a death cult.