Tennessee Grandparent Immunization Consent for a Grandchild

Tennessee public schools require proof of required immunizations or an applicable exemption before a child can attend class. If you are a grandparent or relative raising a child without custody, two questions hit at the same time: can you consent to vaccinations, and can you get the child's immunization records?

Consenting to Vaccines Under a POA

A Power of Attorney for Care of a Minor Child (T.C.A. § 34-6-301) can delegate authority for routine medical care, including vaccinations. The POA should expressly authorize vaccination consent, and the caregiver should bring it to the pediatrician, health department, or pharmacy.

T.C.A. § 63-1-165 separately addresses parental consent for minor vaccinations. The parent should expressly delegate vaccination consent in the written POA. Bring the POA to the immunization appointment.

If you do not have a POA yet but the parent is unavailable, the in loco parentis healthcare affidavit (T.C.A. § 34-6-402) gives a relative temporary authority to consent to healthcare — including vaccinations — for up to 60 days without a parent's signature.

Getting Immunization Records

Tennessee immunization records are maintained in the Tennessee Immunization Information System (TennIIS). The child's previous pediatrician or local health department can pull the records from TennIIS.

As a caregiver with a valid POA, you have full HIPAA personal representative status for the child. That means you can request the child's immunization records from any provider who administered vaccines, and the provider must release them to you.

If the child's records are scattered across multiple providers or you cannot reach the previous doctor, contact your county health department. They can search TennIIS and print a consolidated immunization certificate.

What Schools Need

Tennessee schools require an Official Immunization Certificate (Form PH-4103) or an applicable exemption. For a child who is as up-to-date as possible on the catch-up schedule, TennIIS can produce a temporary certificate. It expires one month after the next required immunization is due.

Required vaccines for Tennessee school entry include DTaP, polio, MMR, hepatitis B, varicella, and others depending on the child's age and grade level. Children who are uninsured or enrolled in TennCare, among other eligibility categories, may receive free vaccines through the Vaccines for Children program at participating providers, including county health departments. Contact your county health department to check eligibility and availability.

Exemptions

Tennessee allows a religious exemption: a parent or guardian may file a signed written statement with school authorities that immunization conflicts with their religious tenets and practices, affirmed under penalties of perjury. A physician or authorized public health nurse can document a medical exemption for specific vaccines.

One Less Thing to Worry About

The Tennessee School and Medical Consent Guide covers the full immunization consent process, where to get records from TennIIS, and the school enrollment checklist so you can handle vaccines and registration in the same week.

See more Tennessee guides →