Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-10-401 - Establishment and Maintenance of an Immunization Registry for Children

Establishment and Maintenance of an Immunization Registry for Children

It is the responsibility of each parent or legal guardian to ensure that their children receives vaccines recommended by the Center for Disease Control or the American Academy of Pediatrics. Recommended vaccines should be obtained within the first two years of the child's life. These include diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP), oral polio vaccine (OPV) or inactivated polio vaccine (IPCV), measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), haemophilus influenze type b conjugate vaccine (Hib), hepatitus B vaccine (Hep B), pneumococcal vaccine, influenza vaccine, and varicella.

If there is funding, the Department of Health shall provide free vaccine through the first twenty-four months of life for Tennessee children born after January 1, 1966. If the health provider charges an administrative fee, it shall not exceed the amount established by the health care financing administration under the Vaccines for Children Program. A vaccine should not be withheld because the family is unable to pay the fee.

The Department shall maintain an immunization registry for children. By January 1, 1996, the Department shall require all local public health departments to report immunizations given. This applies to health care providers, third party payors, health insurance entities, or any entity that has elected, organized, and qualified as a self-insured entity. Information from the registry shall be available to parents and legal guardians, health care providers, third party payors or health insurance entities, any entity that qualifies as a self-insured entity, schools, child care facilities, and other institutions that have care or custody of children.

The commissioner shall report on immunization rates and improvements or changes made during the year to the health committee of the house of representatives and the health and welfare committee of the senate.