MICHIGAN LEGISLATORS INTRODUCE BILLS TO PROTECT AGAINST DISCRIMINATION

For Immediate Release

June 8, 2025

Contact: Connie Johnson

Phone:(313) 306-6456‬

mail: media@michiganvaccinechoice.org

Org: Michigan for Vaccine Choice (www.michiganvaccinechoice.org)

MICHIGAN LEGISLATORS INTRODUCE BILLS TO PROTECT AGAINST DISCRIMINATION

TROY, MI ~ A press conference in Lansing on June 10 will outline how parents in Michigan are increasingly reporting that their children are being harassed, kicked out of pediatric practices, and excluded from public schools. These two issues have a common factor: the agencies and organizations behind these policies ignore parents’ right to exempt their children from vaccinations and have put into place policies and procedures that interfere with laws protecting these rights. Further, these practices violate rights protected under statutory and constitutional law at both the state and federal levels.

The culprits behind these violations are the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

To circumvent Michigan law, MDHHS promulgated Administrative Rules 325.175 and 325.176. R325.175 guides local health departments (LHDs) and schools to exclude students who are not vaccinated according to the AAP and CDC recommendations when any student gets a “vaccine preventable disease”, even if the student with the disease is vaccinated and the expelled students are healthy. R325.176 provided guidance for LHDs to provide “education” for those who provide their school with an exemption.

MDHHS is an executive agency and has no lawmaking authority. R325.176 is an administrative rule, to be applied only as an internal administrative policy for the agency. It does not and cannot impose any legal requirements on parents. MCL333.9215 clearly states that a parent’s obligation under Michigan law is met when they submit a written statement expressing their religious or other objection and exempting their children from the vaccination requirements to attend school. The LHD departments can provide education but cannot force parents to participate in this measure if they object. A memo written by Dr. Remington Nevin, Medical Director of the St. Clair County Health Department, spells out that the guidance used by LHDs and schools has been grossly misinterpreted, resulting in over a decade of MDHHS violating state law. Children have been unlawfully discriminated against because of their vaccination status and excluded from school over this misinterpretation, opening schools up to liability and the LHDs for violations of state and federal statutes and constitutions.

An article by Michigan for Vaccine Choice highlights the common practice of excluding under- or unvaccinated children from pediatric practices, citing the APP policy along with CDC recommendations. The AAP, which like the CDC receives funding from pharmaceutical companies, has been calling for an end to religious and philosophical exemptions for vaccinations. These exclusions are being called health measures but are not being applied to sick children. Exclusions are based solely on not being up-to-date according to the CDC-recommended vaccine schedule.

The introduction of HB 4475 by Rep. Jim DeSana has bipartisan support from over 35 co-sponsors. This bill would amend the Elliot-Larsen civil rights act to add vaccination status as a protected class.

The introduction of HB 4552 & 4553 by Rep. Brad Paquette, with 11 co-sponsors. These bills would rescind R.325.175 & 325.176, which would clarify that MDHHS promulgated rules may not contradict or circumvent state law.

These bills would add protective measures to ensure that healthy children are not discriminated against or excluded based on their vaccination status.

Please join us for a press conference:

Tuesday, June 10th, 12:15pm

Michigan State Capitol

West Steps

For media inquiries please contact:(313) 306-6456

Michigan for Vaccine Choice is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to providing educational information about the subject of vaccinations, while protecting and supporting individuals and parents to make vaccine decisions in Michigan.

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