(a) The commissioner of health is authorized to designate diseases against which children must be immunized prior to attendance at any school, nursery school, kindergarten, preschool or child care facility of this state.
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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 49-6-5001

  • Affirmed: In the practice of the appellate courts, the decree or order is declared valid and will stand as rendered in the lower court.
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • signed: includes a mark, the name being written near the mark and witnessed, or any other symbol or methodology executed or adopted by a party with intention to authenticate a writing or record, regardless of being witnessed. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • written: includes printing, typewriting, engraving, lithography, and any other mode of representing words and letters. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Year: means a calendar year, unless otherwise expressed. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(b)

(1) It is the responsibility of the parents or guardian of children to have their children immunized, as required by subsection (a).
(2) Except as provided in subdivision (b)(3), in the absence of an epidemic or immediate threat of an epidemic, this section does not apply to any child whose parent or guardian files with school authorities a signed, written statement that the immunization and other preventive measures conflict with the parent’s or guardian’s religious tenets and practices, affirmed under the penalties of perjury.
(3) This section does not apply to an immunization, vaccination, or injection for the SARS-CoV-2 virus or any variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
(c)

(1) No children shall be permitted to attend any public school, nursery school, kindergarten, preschool or child care facility until proof of immunization is given the admissions officer of the school, nursery school, kindergarten, preschool or child care facility except as provided in subsection (b).
(2) No child shall be denied admission to any school or school facility if the child has not been immunized due to medical reasons if the child has a written statement from the child’s doctor excusing the child from the immunization.
(3) No child or youth determined to be homeless shall be denied admission to any school or school facility if the child or youth has not yet been immunized or is unable to produce immunization records due to being homeless. The enrolling school shall comply with any and all federal laws pertaining to the educational rights of homeless children and youth, including the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. § 11431 et seq.).
(d) Each child attending any school, nursery school, kindergarten, preschool or child care facility without furnishing proof of immunization or exception under subsection (b) or (e), shall not be counted in the average daily attendance of students for the distribution of state school funds.
(e) Any immunization specified under this part shall not be required if a qualified physician certifies that administration of the immunization would be in any manner harmful to the child involved.
(f) The commissioner shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to carry out this section.
(g) By October 1 of each year, the commissioner shall report the number of children in the state during the preceding school year who were determined to be homeless and who enrolled in public schools without being immunized or being able to produce immunization records and the average length of time required for these children to be immunized or to obtain their immunization records. The report shall be submitted to the education committee of the senate and the education administration committee of the house of representatives.
(h) Any communication provided to students or parents by any school, nursery school, kindergarten, preschool, or child care facility of this state regarding immunization requirements must include information on the grounds for exemption from the immunization requirement pursuant to subsections (c) and (e). The exemption information and immunization requirements must be:

(1) Provided in the same font size and style; and
(2) Located on the same page of the written or digital communication.
(i) As used in this section, “school”, “nursery school”, “kindergarten”, “preschool” or “child care facility” does not include a home school as defined in § 49-6-3050.
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