NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — House Republican leaders are urging Gov. Bill Lee to stop the Tennessee Department of Health from distributing COVID-19 vaccines to children under the age of 5.
The request was signed by House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, Majority Leader Rep. William Lamberth, R-Portland, Republican Caucus Chairman Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby, and State Rep. Jason Zachary, R-Knoxville. The group wants Lee to block TDH from giving out, promoting or recommending the vaccines for young children until there is more clinical evidence available.
Yesterday, I was joined by @tnhousegop Leadership in requesting that @GovBillLee direct the @TNDeptofHealth to halt any distribution, promotion or recommendation of the Covid vaccine for children under 5.
— Rep. Jason Zachary (@JasonZacharyTN) June 22, 2022
The letter we sent to the Governor is 👇🏻. pic.twitter.com/NWIc5PzqH9
"Young children have never been at serious risk of death or hospitalization from COVID-19," said Zachary. "That’s why it’s important that we know more about any potential short-term and long-term impacts these vaccinations could have before our health departments start administering them. Parents who want to have their child vaccinated can still do so by going to a private medical provider."
Last week, the Food and Drug Administration granted Moderna and Pfizer emergency use authorization for their COVID-19 vaccines for children as young as 6 months old. Before that, children under the age of 5 were not eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine in the United States.
