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July 9, 2001

“Meningitis Shots Now Mandatory at State-Licensed Child-Care Centers” Associated Press (www.ap.org) (07/07/01)

The Tennessee Department of Health became the first state to pass a mandate requiring all children attending a state-licensed child-care center to receive the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine Prevnar against meningitis.  The July 1 requires all children born on or after June 29, 2001, to receive the four-shot series that helps prevent the most significant bacterial causes of meningitis, pneumonia, blood poisoning, and ear infections.  The exact cost per shot varies depending on provider, but the average is about $232 for all four doses for infants.

ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.