NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Department of Health is hoping to boost the state's immunization rates by spending $400,000 on advertisements promoting the value of vaccines.

The health agency sent out a request last month looking for an advertisement firm to "purchase and manage media time" promoting vaccines.

The state is looking to spend $400,000 on vaccine promotions and $500,000 on tobacco prevention advertisements starting this May and continuing through October 2020.

While Tennessee tends to have higher immunization rates than the overall national average, the state ranks low on the percentage of adolescents who have received their recommended immunizations.

Last year, the agency issued a brief statement saying vaccines "do not cause autism" but do "save lives" in response to a Tennessee congressman who alleged without evidence vaccines may cause autism.