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Hearing set on lawsuit brought by former vaccine chief against Tennessee Department of Health

The State of Tennessee spent $11 million on messaging before firing Dr. Michelle Fiscus for spreading the message approved by Gov. Lee’s office. / Lookout Photo by John Partipilo
The State of Tennessee spent $11 million on messaging before firing Dr. Michelle Fiscus for spreading the message approved by Gov. Lee’s office. / Lookout Photo by John Partipilo The State of Tennessee spent $11 million on messaging before firing Dr. Michelle Fiscus for spreading the message approved by Gov. Lee’s office. / Lookout Photo by John Partipilo

By Anita Wadhwani / Tennessee Lookout 2 min read


A federal judge in Nashville has set a hearing for March 10 to consider competing claims in a lawsuit brought by former Tennessee vaccine chief Michelle Fiscus, whose highly publicized ouster from state government during the pandemic came amidst political pushback on vaccinating teens.

Fiscus is seeking a so-called “name clearing” hearing — open to members of the media and with her former bosses at the Department of Health required to attend to review the circumstances behind her firing.

(READ MORE: Tennessee vaccine chief fired despite prior positive evaluations)

Lawyers for the state health department are asking the judge to bring the lawsuit to a close, without holding a name clearing hearing.