Bill to eliminate vaccine requirements for Tennessee foster care, adoptive families advances

Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixson, says a requirement for foster families of infants to be vaccinated against the flu and whooping cough is “discriminatory.” (Tennessee Lookout Photo by John Partipilo) Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixson, says a requirement for foster families of infants to be vaccinated against the flu and whooping cough is “discriminatory.” (Tennessee Lookout Photo by John Partipilo)

By Anita Wadhwani / Tennessee Lookout February 22, 2024 4 min read

A bill that would eliminate flu and whooping cough vaccine requirements for adoptive families and foster families caring for infants and medically fragile children is advancing in the Tennessee legislature.

The bill, by Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixson, and Rep. Ron Gant, R-Piperton, would end vaccine rules for families fostering or adopting babies under 18 months old and children with significant medical needs, based on the families’ moral or religious objections.

Watson said the bill was intended to remove discriminatory requirements and expand Tennessee’s pool of foster and adoptive families.

“Under the current law, it disqualifies families from fostering and/or adopting a child in state care based on their immunization status, which I find to be discriminatory and unfair” Watson said during Tuesday’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.