EO: 219 Vaccines for Children with Dr. Caitlin Newhouse and Cacky Tate

Tennessee Department of Health Vaccine-Preventable Diseases and Immunization Program and VFC interest form: Vaccine Operations Enrollment Hub

Questions, please email VFC.enrollment@tn.gov

Key Takeaways

The VFC program removes financial and logistical barriers to vaccination, allowing infants to receive life-saving vaccines at birth and during routine pediatric visits without cost to families.

RSV immunization availability represents a major breakthrough in infant protection, with up to 90% effectiveness; birthing hospital enrollment is critical to reaching newborns during peak RSV season (October-March).

Tennessee's declining kindergarten immunization rates and rising pertussis cases underscore the urgent need to expand VFC provider enrollment and improve vaccine access across the state.

Hospital enrollment in VFC is administratively manageable with state support; the process includes paperwork, staff designation, temperature monitoring, and a site visit—not prohibitive barriers.

Despite vocal vaccine hesitancy, most Tennessee parents support immunization; increasing provider enrollment directly addresses access issues rather than demand issues.

Quotable Moments

"VFC has prevented over 508 million illnesses across the U.S., avoided over 1.1 million deaths, and saved nearly $2.7 trillion."

"Our ultimate goal is for babies to have access to life-saving vaccines before they leave the hospital."

"These immunizations are up to 90% effective in preventing RSV-related hospital admissions. So we have a really, really great tool in our toolbox and we want to try to find a way to get this tool to all of our babies across Tennessee."

"Most people still want their kids to be vaccinated. So I want everyone to take that home as like the main takeaway."

Show Notes by Barevalue.

No content or comments made in any TIPQC Healthy Mom Healthy Baby Podcast is intended to be comprehensive or medical advice. Neither healthcare providers nor patients should rely on TIPQC’s Podcasts in determining the best practices for any particular patient. Additionally, standards and practices in medicine change as new information and data become available and the individual medical professional should consult a variety of sources in making clinical decisions for individual patients. TIPQC undertakes no duty to update or revise any particular Podcast. It is the responsibility of the treating physician or health care professional, relying on independent experience and knowledge of the patient, to determine appropriate treatment.