NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee health officials are urging parents to start thinking about their children's school immunizations now.
Children in Tennessee who are enrolling in school for the first time and all students going into seventh grade are required to have a state immunization certificate before classes start.
Many health care providers, including county health departments, have necessary immunizations available. Children who have no insurance, are enrolled in TennCare, have private insurance that doesn't cover vaccines or are American Indian or Alaska Native may be eligible for free vaccines. A separate charge for administration of the vaccine may be discounted if they have no insurance, have private insurance that doesn't cover vaccines or are American Indian or Alaska Native.
Immunization requirements are posted on the Tennessee Department of Health website at http://health.state.tn.us/TWIS/requirements.htm .