RFK’s COVID vaccine cuts could lead to child deaths, Nashville doctors say

Some Nashville pediatricians are raising concerns after a September directive from the Tennessee Department of Health barred them from administering the 2024–2025 Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to children ages six months to 11 years — even those at heightened risk of severe illness or death.

Dr. James Keffer, with Old Harding Pediatric Associates, said he and others have been ordered to toss out vaccines on shelves in their offices. Instead, they must wait for an updated 2025-2026 vaccine to arrive. But there has not been any indication when those new shipments might become available for families on state-run health insurance plan TennCare.