Tennessee Department of Health Offers Immunizations for School and seasonal Illnesses
- Peterson Media Group
- Jun 15
- 1 min read
The Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) is reminding families across the state that now is the time to make immunizations a priority. With students on summer break and families enjoying camps, pools, and outdoor fun, this is an ideal time for parents to ensure their children are fully vaccinated before heading back to school in August.
What Parents Should Know :
Kindergarteners and other children enrolling in a Tennessee school for the first time must provide schools with a complete, official Tennessee Immunization Certificate before classes begin. The certificate must be signed by a qualified health care provider or verified by the state’s Immunization Information System.
All current students entering seventh grade must provide schools with a limited official Tennessee Immunization Certificate showing they have received a Tdap booster (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis).
College-bound students should check with their school for specific requirements. However, teens who are fully vaccinated, including having received a meningitis booster after age 16, will meet requirements for all Tennessee state-run colleges.
The full list of Tennessee child care and school immunization requirements is available at tn.gov/health/cedep/immunization-program/ip/vfc.
Routine Immunizations for All Ages :
In addition to school-required shots, local health departments provide vaccines for infants, children, teens, and adults. These include protection against hepatitis A and B, HPV, meningococcal disease, and more. Staying current on recommended immunizations helps reduce the spread of disease in families, schools, and communities.
To schedule an appointment or learn more about available immunizations, contact your local health department:
Coffee County Health Department is located at 615 Wilson Ave, Tullahoma, TN 37388.
Phone: (931) 455-9369
Medical and Religious exemptions are available for every vaccination requirement in the state, public and private, through either state law, rule, or federal civil rights protections.
For children in any school, nursery school, kindergarten, preschool or child care facility of this state see Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-6-5001
For students enrolled in higher education: Medical and religious exemptions are provided by state law (exemptions provided in the Jacob-Nunley Act for the meningococcal vaccine – Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-7-124 ). All other higher education vaccination requirements and exemptions have come from Department of Health Rules. (https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/rules/1200/1200-14/1200-14-01.20191013.pdf)
Schools must tell parents about exemptions. State law says: “Any communication provided to students or parents” by the school “must include information” about exemptions…