Fired Tennessee vaccine leader rebuts claims point-by-point

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Days after she was fired under pressure from Republican legislators, Tennessee’s former vaccinations director has issued a point-by-point rebuttal to a letter that recommended her removal.

The letter from the state’s chief medical officer said Michelle Fiscus should be removed due to complaints about her leadership approach and a letter she sent about vaccination rights of minors, among other things.

Fiscus accuses Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey of firing her on Monday “to appease a handful of outraged and uninformed legislators.”

Now she’s pointing to years of glowing performance reviews and other detailed information to rebut the state’s justification.

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