Politics

TN Politics: Putting the Squeeze on the Unvaccinated

WKNO

Published August 27, 2021 at 12:16 PM CDT

Courtesy Tennessee Department of Health

via Twitter

Several social media ads distributed by the Tennessee Department of Health feature young people who appear to have been vaccinated against COVID-19.

The laws and executive orders were meant to keep kids in schools in areas such as Memphis and Nashville, where Democratic leaders have taken a more aggressive approach to dealing with COVID-19. But with the delta variant rampaging across the state, even the reddest towns are closing schools because neither safety nor remote learning is available.

Political analyst Otis Sanford says the mixed messaging from Republican leaders such as Gov. Bill Lee, House Speaker Cameron Sexton and Senate Leader Randy McNally show the confusion and lack of leadership in an administration that has made mask wearing a political statement, rather than a public health issue.

Sanford says the next step for Shelby County to get more citizens vaccinated is for businesses to issue vaccine mandates, and other places to be sure customers and patrons are vaccinated.