Issue: Bills that would prohibit the department of children’s services from requiring an immunization as a condition of adopting or overseeing a child in foster care.
Examples of State Bill(s): The following bills were introduced in state houses during the 202 legislative session.
- Example: TN SB2359/HB1726
What it means:
- Prohibits the department of children’s services from requiring an immunization as a condition of adopting or overseeing a child in foster care if an individual or member of an individual’s household objects to immunization on the basis of religious or moral convictions.
Bill Talking Points:
- Children have the right to be placed in a home that is as safe as possible. Regardless of their family circumstances, children deserve protection against preventable diseases.
- Foster children already face challenges related to access to healthcare and are higher risk for infectious diseases due to factors such as changes in living situations and exposure to communal environments.
- A potential foster or adoptive parent’s religious or moral objection to vaccinesshould not be put in front of the wellbeing of a child placed in their care.
- Flu and whooping cough (pertussis) are extremely dangerous, often resulting in hospitalization and even death, especially in very young children.
- Even mild flu and whooping cough infections lead to lost time at school for the child and work for the family. They can also lead to a larger financial medical care burden for the state and for the family.
- Many children in state custody are too young to be vaccinated, are behind on vaccines, or have underlying documented medical conditions and cannot be vaccinated, thereby relying on people around them to be vaccinated against vaccine preventable diseases.
- Foster families being vaccinated protects these child(ren) by reducing the likelihood of foster parents from contracting and spreading infectious diseases to those under their care, creating a safer environment for everyone.
Bottom line:
- Vaccines not only protect oneself, but families, neighbors, and communities. They are especially important for children, older adults, and those who are immunocompromised, and those who may not be able to get vaccinated.
- Vaccinations protect individuals from severe illness, hospitalization, and death. They have helped Americans get back to work and to our daily lives.