Joint Government Operations Committee chairmen release statement on Department of Health

Joint Government Operations Committee Chairmen Kerry Roberts (RSpringfield) and John Ragan (R-Oak Ridge) made an announcement Tuesday in the Rule Review Committee concerning the Department of Health. The announcement is pursuant to the Joint Committee’s action at its June 16, 2021 meeting to invite the Department to return to the next committee meeting on July 21, 2021 to address further questions and concerns regarding the administration of COVID-19 vaccines to minors without parental consent. In the remarks read by Chairman Kerry Roberts he reiterated the main two concerns of some committee members were that the COVID-19 vaccine, was being marketed to minors and administered without parental consent. “We have not discouraged Tennesseans from being vaccinated nor have we discouraged Tennesseans from having their children vaccinated,” Roberts continued. “Further, it has been widely misrepresented that all children’s vaccines have come to a halt. To be absolutely clear,
Tennessee’s efforts on childhood vaccinations are unchanged. The only exception is administering a COVID-19 vaccination without parental consent.”