Dr. Randy Wykoff, dean of the college of public health at East Tennessee State University, has presented on public health issues in the Tennessee General Assembly every year for 12 years. During that time, he has followed Tennessee's having dropped from the top 10 to the bottom 10 in America’s Health Rankings for child immunizations.
In the 2013 ranking, produced by the United Health Foundation, Tennessee was tenth in the nation, with 73.1 percent of children aged 19 to 35 months immunized. The 2023 report measured 67.8 percent vaccinated by the age of 24 months, ranking 41st in the nation.
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?mq:==D 7@4FD65 @? A2C6?E2= 7C665@> :? G244:?2E:?8 E96:C 49:=5C6? 92G6 366? 2 EC6?5 :? C646?E =68:D=2E:G6 D6DD:@?D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?mx? E96 a_ab =68:D=2E:G6 D6DD:@?[ 2 =2H E92E H2D A2DD65 C6BF:C:?8 5@4E@CD E@ 24BF:C6 “:?7@C>65 4@?D6?E” 7C@> A2C6?ED E@ 25>:?:DE6C G244:?6Dk^DA2?m kDEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E6??6DD62?]4@>^DE@CJ^?6HD^A@=:E:4D^a_ab^_g^`e^E6??6DD66\=2H\=:>:E:?8\>:?@C\G244:?6\2AAC@G2=\:D\A6CG2D:G6\AC@3=6>\7@C\5@4E@CD\42C68:G6CD^f_dgghhh__f^Qm4@>A=:42E65 2446DD 7@C 49:=5C6? H9@ 2C6 ?@E F?56C E96 42C6 @7 E96:C 3:@=@8:42= A2C6?EDk^2mk^DEC@?8mkDA2?m] p?@E96C ?6H =2Hk^DA2?m kDEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?2D9G:==6A@DE]4@>^A@=:E:4D^DE2E6^3:==\C6BF:C:?8\A2C6?E2=\A6C>:DD:@?\7@C\E66?\G244:?2E:@?\A2DD6D\D6?2E6^2CE:4=6022f37a5_\5gh6\``65\g_46\cb4`ccha`ba_]9E>=QmC6BF:C65 A2C6?E2= A6C>:DD:@? 7@C E66?D 286D `c E@ `g E@ C646:G6 G244:?6Dk^2mk^DEC@?8mkDA2?m[ @G6CEFC?:?8 E96 `hgf |2EFC6 |:?@C s@4EC:?6] xE 7@==@H65 E96k^DA2?m kDEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?2D9G:==6A@DE]4@>^3FD:?6DD^962=E9042C6^DE2E6\7:C6D\E@A\G244:?6\@77:4:2=\@G6C\2AA2C6?E\A@=:E:42=\DBF233=6^2CE:4=606hc655he\6c_h\``63\232`\gf_3ha7fcf5a]9E>=Qm7:C:?8 @7 E@A DE2E6 G244:?6 @77:4:2= |:496==6 u:D4FDk^2mk^DEC@?8mkDA2?m[ H9@ 6IAC6DD65 DFAA@CE 7@C E66? G244:?2E:@?D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m%9:D J62C[ 2 k^DA2?mkDEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^H2AA]42A:E@=]E?]8@G^2AAD^q:==x?7@^5672F=E]2DAInq:==}F>36Cl$qabdhU2>Ajvpl``bQm3:==k^2mk^DEC@?8m kDA2?mH@F=5k^DA2?m kDEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E6??6DD66=@@<@FE]4@>^a_ac^_a^a`^3:==\E@\6=:>:?2E6\G2I\C6BF:C6>6?ED\7@C\E6??6DD66\7@DE6C\42C6\25@AE:G6\72>:=:6D\25G2?46D^Qm6?5 4FCC6?E G244:?6 CF=6Dk^2mk^DEC@?8m kDA2?mC6BF:C:?8 H9@@A:?8 4@F89 2?5 7=F D9@ED 7@C 7@DE6C A2C6?ED 42C:?8 7@C 323:6D F?56C `g >@?E9D @=5 @C <:5D H:E9 D:8?:7:42?E >65:42= ?665D] p?@E96Ck^DA2?m kDEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6HD492??6=d]4@>^?6HD^E6??6DD66\=2H>2<6C\H2?ED\CF=6D\:?\A=246\7@C\E96\A@DD:3:=:EJ\@7\G244:?6D\:?\AC@5F46Qm3:== H2D 3C@F89E 7@CH2C5 32D65k^2mk^DEC@?8m kDA2?m@? 4@?46C? E92E G244:?2E:@?D 4@F=5 36 AFE :? G686E23=6D H:E9@FE 4FDE@>6C <?@H=6586] k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m$A62<:?8 E@ E96 $6?2E6 w62=E9 2?5 (6=72C6 r@>>:EE66[ (J<@77 E@=5 E96k^DA2?m k6>m!@DEk^6>m kDA2?m96 H2?E65 E@ 4@?G6J E92E %6??6DD66 4@F=5 36 5@:?8 36EE6C @? E96 >2EE6C @7 49:=59@@5 G244:?2E:@?] w@H6G6C[ 96 D2:5 96 F?56CDE2?5D H9J G244:?2E:@? C2E6D 92G6 5C@AA65 :? C646?E J62CD] k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m“|@DE J@F?8 p>6C:42?D E@52J[ H9@ 92G6 <:5D[ 92G6 ?6G6C D66? 2 42D6 @7 A@=:@ @C >62D=6D 2?5 46CE2:?=J ?@E 5:A9E96C:2[ H9@@A:?8 4@F89[” 96 D2:5] “%96J 92G6?VE D66? E9@D6 5:D62D6D[ 2?5 2=D@ D66 E92E H96? 2 323J 86ED 2 D9@E[ E96J 4CJ] xE’D F?56CDE2?523=6 E92E A6@A=6 2C6 96D:E2?E E@ 86E G244:?2E65 3642FD6 E96J 5@?VE 92G6 2 C62= F?56CDE2?5:?8 @7 E96 D6G6C:EJ @7 D@>6 @7 E96D6 5:D62D6D]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?mx? E96 a_aa\ab D49@@= J62C[k^DA2?m kDEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?2D9G:==6A@DE]4@>^3FD:?6DD^962=E9042C6^<:?56C82CE6?\G244:?2E:@?\4@>A=:2?46\A=F>>6E:?8\:?\E6??6DD66^2CE:4=60dca2`bh_\bf3e\``66\gf6e\e37f3e2bb4e4]9E>=Qm>@C6 %6??6DD66 72>:=:6D D6?E E96:C 49:=5C6? E@ <:?56C82CE6? F?G244:?2E65k^2mk^DEC@?8m kDA2?mH:E9 2 C6=:8:@FD 6I6>AE:@? E92? 925 366? E96 42D6 :? C646?E >6>@CJ[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 =2E6DE z:?56C82CE6? x>>F?:K2E:@? r@>A=:2?46 pDD6DD>6?E #6A@CE 7C@> E96 %6??6DD66 s6A2CE>6?E @7 w62=E9] |@DE C6=:8:@?Dk^DA2?m kDEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]GF>4]@C8^962=E9\H6==?6DD^C6D@FC46\2CE:4=6D^:>>F?:K2E:@?D\2?5\C6=:8:@?Qm5@ ?@E AC@9:3:Ek^2mk^DEC@?8m G244:?2E:@?DkDA2?m[ 3FE :?G@<:?8 C6=:8:@FD 7C665@> AC@G:56D 2 D>@@E96C A2E9 E92? @E96CH:D6 E@ 6I6>AE:@?] k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?mr~'xs\`h G244:?6 96D:E2?4J 46CE2:?=J 3=65 :?E@ E96k^DA2?m kDEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?2D9G:==6A@DE]4@>^3FD:?6DD^65F42E:@?^D@>6\A2C6?ED\96D:E2?E\E@\86E\DEF56?ED\G244:?2E65^2CE:4=60ch4h2haf\d_c4\d`cd\g26h\cah774cdca32]9E>=Qm<:?56C82CE6? G244:?6 4@?G6CD2E:@?k^2mk^DEC@?8mkDA2?m[ 3FE :E H2D?’E E96 7:CDE 9:E[ (J<@77 D2:5] %96 `hhg DEF5J E92E 7@F?5 G244:?6D 42FD65 2FE:D> 92Dk^DA2?m kDEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]>2J@4=:?:4962=E9DJDE6>]@C8^9@>6E@H?\962=E9^DA62<:?8\@7\962=E9^2FE:D>\G244:?6\=:?<\563F?<65QmD:?46 366? 563F?<65k^2mk^DEC@?8mkDA2?m[ 3FE E96 AF3=:4 D6?E:>6?E 2C@F?5 E96> =:?86C65] x? C646?E J62CD[ E96 G244:?6 4@?G6CD2E:@? 92D >@CA965[ (J<@77 D2:5[ :?E@ @?6 23@FE A6CD@?2= 49@:46[ C2E96C E92? AF3=:4 962=E9] k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m“p? @77D9@@E @7 E92E 5:D4FDD:@? :? E9:D :DDF6 :D E92E E96D6 2C6 :DDF6D @7 A6CD@?2= 49@:46 2?5 A6CD@?2= =:36CEJ[ 2D @AA@D65 E@ :DDF6D E92E 27764E 2== @7 D@4:6EJ[” (J<@77 D2:5] k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?msC] qF55J rC6649[ A65:2EC:4:2? 2?5 5:C64E@C @7 E96 '2?56C3:=E '244:?6 #6D62C49 !C@8C2>[ D2:5 @G6C E96 A2DE 76H J62CD 96 92D D66? 2 492?86 :? 56>@8C2A9:4D C682C5:?8 G244:?6 D<6AE:4:D>] *62CD 28@[ rC6649 D2:5[ G244:?6 C6;64E:@? H2D 4@?46?EC2E65 :? 2 76H A@4<6ED :? r2=:7@C?:2 2?5 E96 !24:7:4 }@CE9H6DE[ :? s6>@4C2E:4 DEC@?89@=5D[ @C C6D6CG65 7@C E96 p>:D9 2?5 @E96C 4=@D65 4@>>F?:E:6D H:E9 C6DEC:4E:G6 5:6E2CJ =2HD @C C6DEC:4E:G6 6?8286>6?E H:E9 D@4:6EJ] x? C646?E J62CD[ E96 D<6AE:4:D> 92D 366? 4@?46?EC2E65 :? E96 $@FE962DE 2?5 |:5H6DE[ EC25:E:@?2==J >@C6 #6AF3=:42? 2C62D] k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?mrC6649 D2:5 :E :D :>A@CE2?E E@ 6>A92D:K6 E92E E9:D 5:DECFDE :D 2 7C:?86 A@D:E:@? 2>@?8 A2C6?ED[ AC@G:56CD 2?5 A@=:E:4:2?D] k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m“x 2> 92AAJ E@ =:G6 :? E96 ?F2?46 @7 r~'xs G244:?6D[” 96 D2:5] “qFE H92E x H2?E E@ 5@ :D 564@FA=6 E92E 7C@> ,G244:?6. 4@?7:56?46 :? >62D=6D[ >F>AD[ A?6F>@4@442=[ 7=F]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAm(9@@A:?8 4@F89 W2=D@ <?@H? 2D A6CEFDD:DX C6>2:?D 2 E@A `_ 42FD6 @7 562E9 H@C=5H:56 7@C :?72?ED 2?5 J@F?8 49:=5C6?[ rC6649 A@:?E65 @FE] pD C646?E=J 2D a_ J62CD 28@[ rC6649[ H9@ 92D D6CG65 2D 2 A9JD:4:2? 7@C ad J62CD[ 92D D66? :?72?ED 5:6 7C@> E96 5:D62D6] !C68?2?E >@E96CD 2C6 G244:?2E65 E@ AC@E64E E96 49:=5 :? :ED 7:CDE 76H >@?E9D @7 =:76[ 2?5 E96 r6?E6CD 7@C s:D62D6 r@?EC@= 2?5 !C6G6?E:@? C64@>>6?5D E96 7:CDE 5@D6 2E EH@ >@?E9D @=5] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m“!6CEFDD:D :D 2 5:D62D6 E92E H6 5@?VE H2?E E@ D=66A @?[ 3642FD6 :E 42? 4@>6 324< H:E9 2 G6?862?46 G6CJ BF:4<=J[” rC6649 D2:5] k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?mp?@E96C 4@?46C? :? E96 <:?56C82CE6? G244:?6 3F?5=6 :D >62D=6D] xE’D 5:77:4F=E E@ EC62E[ 2?5 42? =625 E@ 3=:?5?6DD[ rC6649 D2:5] u=@C:52 D2H 2k^DA2?m kDEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]43D?6HD]4@>^?6HD^H92E\H6\<?@H\23@FE\E96\>62D=6D\42D6D\C6A@CE65\:?\a_ac^Qm>62D=6D @FE3C62<k^2mk^DEC@?8m kDA2?mE9:D J62C] k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?mx7 49:=5C6? 92G6 >65:42= C62D@?D ?@E E@ 86E 2 G244:?6[ E96J 42? 7:?5 D276EJ :? 96C5 :>>F?:EJ[ (J<@77 D2:5[ 3FE :E’D 2 D=:AA6CJ D=@A6]k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m“x? A6@A=6VD >:?5D[ E96J D2J[ H6==[ E96 C:D< @7 >J 49:=5 86EE:?8 A@=:@ :D =6DD E92? E96 C:D< @7 E96> 92G:?8 2 D:56 67764E[” (J<@77 D2:5] “p?5 :? 46CE2:? D46?2C:@D[ E92E >:89E 36 ECF6] qFE :7 6G6CJ@?6 24E65 E92E H2J[ @C 6G6? 2 >2;@C:EJ @7 A6@A=6 24E65 E92E H2J[ E96? 2== @7 2 DF556? :EVD ?@ =@?86C ECF6]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?mrC6649 A@:?ED @FE E92E E96C6 :D D@>6 :C@?J :? E96 @3D6CG2E:@? E92E E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D 92D 49:=5 G244:?6D E92E 2C6[ 7@C E96 >@DE A2CE[ 7C66 2?5 2446DD:3=6]k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m“'244:?6 96D:E2?4J 92D ?@E 366? 2? :DDF6 :? E96 56G6=@A:?8 H@C=5 H96C6 E96J D66 E96D6 5:D62D6D 2== E96 E:>6[ 2?5 E96J =@D6 49:=5C6? 2== E96 E:>6[ 5F6 E@ E96D6 :?764E:@?D[” rC6649 D2:5] “(6 92G6 E96 =FIFCJ @7 6?DFC:?8 23D@=FE6 G244:?6 D276EJ :? E9:D 4@F?ECJ] %96 C6DE @7 E96 H@C=5[ E96J H@F=5 =@?8 E@ 92G6 D@>6 @7 E96D6 G244:?6D E92E E92E E96J D:>A=J 5@?VE 92G6 2446DD E@ 2?5 E96J <?@H E96 56G2DE2E:?8 67764ED @7 E96D6 :?764E:@?D]” k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?mw6 25565[ “xE :D E96 96:89E @7 9F3C:D E@ 92G6 E9:D =6G6= @7 2446DD E@ =:76\D2G:?8 42C6 7@C @FC 49:=5C6? 2?5 ?@E E2<6 25G2?E286 @7 :E]”k^DA2?mk^Am
