Tennessee Republican Gov. Bill Lee pushes back allegations about his youth immunization program days after the state’s top immunization official was sacked for allegedly sharing factual information with doctors about the legality of the vaccination of unemancipated minors without parental consent.

The Tennessee Democratic Party called for the reinstatement of Dr. Michelle Fiscus and for the governor “to re-engage the Tennessee Department of Health to carry out its mission to protect, promote and improve the health and prosperity of the people of Tennessee,” reported WMC. .

Despite what Lee’s office called “misleading reports,” the state Department of Health “hasn’t stopped the Vaccines for Children program that provides information and access to vaccines to parents in Tennessee.” a spokesperson for the governor said in a statement to WMC.

“The department is ensuring that parents, not children, are the target audience for any awareness-raising efforts regarding medical decisions for children and has simply re-evaluated certain tactics like postcards reminder and follow-up communications,” according to the governor’s office.

COVID-19 SAW MILLIONS MISS CHILDREN’S VACCINATIONS, WHICH WARNS

Fiscus said on Monday that she had the option of being fired or resigning, but she chose “to be fired because I had done nothing wrong.” She told WTVF she believed she lost her job to appease GOP state lawmakers after distributing information to doctors about the Mature Minors Doctrine, which allows health care providers to treat some minors without parental consent, in accordance with the “rule of seven”.

The state health department says the rule allows doctors to treat minors 14 and older without parental consent “unless the doctor believes the minor is not mature enough to take his own health decisions “. Fiscus said the Department of Health attorney provided a letter on doctrine based on a 1987 Tennessee Supreme Court decision and her job was to explain what is allowed.

“While childhood immunization rates have temporarily dropped during the COVID-19 pandemic, we are already seeing immunization rates rebound to pre-pandemic levels and will continue to support working parents to get their families back on track. “said the spokesperson for the governor.

The program, which includes DTap, MMR, polio, chickenpox and hepatitis B vaccinations, “will continue to be administered successfully,” the statement added. According to the governor’s office, Tennessee ranks among the top 10 states for MMR immunization coverage among kindergarten children in the 2019-2020 school year, and 95.3% of 2020-2021 kindergarten students of Tennessee were fully immunized.

For more than a decade, Tennessee has had over 90% coverage of kindergarten students receiving childhood vaccines, including DTap, MMR, polio, chickenpox, hepatitis B, the office said. by Lee.

Fiscus said that prior to his dismissal, the state’s health department leadership asked the department to “no longer raise awareness around childhood immunizations of any kind,” WMC reported. “It’s infant vaccination, HPV vaccination in a state that has one of the highest HPV cancer rates in the country. The flu vaccination in schools has been canceled,” he said. she declared.

A Department of Health situation report, first obtained by WSMV in Nashville, said Tennessee Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Lisa Piercey recently ordered department employees not to organize a vaccination event in or on school property or to organize COVID-19 vaccination events in organizations whose clientele consists only of children.

Sarah Tanksley, spokesperson for Piercey, told The Associated Press that the agency had “in no way interrupted the childhood immunization program” and stressed that the state would continue to support efforts to raise awareness of the children. vaccines. Tanksley added that the state was “aware of the hesitation” surrounding vaccinations and stressed that the department intended to recognize National Immunization Awareness Month.

According to the Associated Press, only 38% of Tennesseans are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, lagging behind much of the country.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

State Senator Raumesh Akbari, D-Memphis, said the change was “dangerous and terrifying”, arguing that the state health department’s decision provided “an example of policy at the head of our department health. It’s a problem. It’s an abdication of leadership. “

The Shelby County Health Department, which serves Memphis and operates independently of the state, said the state’s new health department rule would not affect their vaccination. Shelby County schools said they will continue to advise students, parents and families to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Separately, Fiscus’ husband Brad Fiscus told the Tennessean his wife received an Amazon package containing a muzzle about a week before his dismissal – it is not known who sent the item. The Tennessee Department of Security and Homeland Security is investigating the incident.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Tennessee Republican Gov. Bill Lee pushes back allegations about his youth immunization program days after the state’s top immunization official was sacked for allegedly sharing factual information with doctors about the legality of the vaccination of unemancipated minors without parental consent.

The Tennessee Democratic Party called for the reinstatement of Dr. Michelle Fiscus and for the governor “to re-engage the Tennessee Department of Health to carry out its mission to protect, promote and improve the health and prosperity of the people of Tennessee,” reported WMC. .

Despite what Lee’s office called “misleading reports,” the state Department of Health “hasn’t stopped the Vaccines for Children program that provides information and access to vaccines to parents in Tennessee.” a spokesperson for the governor said in a statement to WMC.

“The department is ensuring that parents, not children, are the target audience for any awareness-raising efforts regarding medical decisions for children and has simply re-evaluated certain tactics like postcards reminder and follow-up communications,” according to the governor’s office.

COVID-19 HAS SEEN MILLIONS MISSING CHILDREN’S VACCINATIONS, WHICH WARNS

Fiscus said on Monday that she had the option of being fired or resigning, but she chose “to be fired because I had done nothing wrong.” She told WTVF she believed she lost her job to appease GOP state lawmakers after distributing information to doctors about the Mature Minors Doctrine, which allows health care providers to treat some minors without parental consent, in accordance with the “rule of seven”.

The state health department says the rule allows doctors to treat minors 14 and over without parental consent “unless the doctor believes the minor is not mature enough to take his own health decisions “. Fiscus said the Department of Health attorney provided a letter on doctrine based on a 1987 Tennessee Supreme Court decision and her job was to explain what is allowed.

“While childhood immunization rates temporarily fell during the COVID-19 pandemic, we are already seeing immunization rates rebound to pre-pandemic levels and will continue to support working parents to get their families back on track. “, said the spokesperson for the governor.

The program, which includes DTap, MMR, polio, chickenpox and hepatitis B vaccinations, “will continue to be administered successfully,” the statement added. According to the governor’s office, Tennessee ranks among the top 10 states for MMR immunization coverage among kindergarten children in the 2019-2020 school year, and 95.3% of 2020-2021 kindergarten students of Tennessee were fully immunized.

For more than a decade, Tennessee has had over 90% coverage of kindergarten students receiving childhood vaccines, including DTap, MMR, polio, chickenpox, hepatitis B, the office said. by Lee.

Fiscus said that prior to his dismissal, the state’s health department leadership asked the department to “no longer raise awareness around childhood immunizations of any kind,” WMC reported. “It’s infant vaccination, HPV vaccination in a state that has one of the highest rates of HPV cancer in the country. Flu vaccination in schools has been canceled,” he said. she declared.

A Department of Health situation report, first obtained by WSMV in Nashville, said Tennessee Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Lisa Piercey recently ordered department employees not to organize a vaccination event in or on school property or to organize COVID-19 vaccination events in organizations whose clientele consists only of children.

Sarah Tanksley, spokesperson for Piercey, told The Associated Press that the agency had “in no way interrupted the childhood immunization program” and stressed that the state would continue to support efforts to raise awareness of the children. vaccines. Tanksley added that the state was “aware of the hesitation” surrounding vaccinations and stressed that the department intended to recognize National Immunization Awareness Month.

According to the Associated Press, only 38% of Tennesseans are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, lagging much of the country.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

State Senator Raumesh Akbari, D-Memphis, said the change was “dangerous and terrifying”, arguing that the state health department’s decision provided “an example of policy at the head of our department health. It’s a problem. It’s an abdication of leadership. “

The Shelby County Health Department, which serves Memphis and operates independently of the state, said the state’s new health department rule would not affect their vaccination. Shelby County schools said they will continue to advise students, parents and families to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Separately, Fiscus’ husband Brad Fiscus told the Tennessean his wife received an Amazon package containing a muzzle about a week before his dismissal – it is not known who sent the item. The Tennessee Department of Security and Homeland Security is investigating the incident.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.