(The Center Square) – Michigan Democrats have proposed a package of vaccine-related bills in response to moves from the Trump administration.
The package of 11 different bills include a wide range of different policies, including everything from mandating reporting of immunization rates in schools to modifying exemption forms.
The House Democrats that are spearheading the bills have labeled the package “Empowering Parents, Protecting Communities.” This comes in direct response to the news that U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s vaccine advisory panel revised the childhood immunization schedule.
“Parents across Michigan are anxious and confused by RFK Jr.’s attacks on science and his spread of vaccine misinformation,” said state Rep. Matt Longjohn, D-Portage. “Regardless of whether parents choose to vaccinate, they deserve trusted, evidence-based information. This package ensures families, providers, and insurers have clear answers to make informed decisions.”
Republicans, with majority in the state House, are expressing concern with the proposed bills. State Rep. Brad Paquette, R-Niles, is leading the charge against the package. He spoke with TCS following a Democrat press conference regarding the bill package.
“There was a poster on the podium that said ‘Empowering Parents, Protecting Communities’ and I agree with that completely,” Paquette said. “But, the people that are left out of that community are those that have been injured by vaccines.”
Additionally, he highlighted concerns that the bills unnecessarily create barriers for parents that don’t want to vaccinate their children, while also dividing communities across the state by requiring vaccination status reports from local schools.
Paquette explained that personal experience is fueling his distrust of the proposed bills. At the age of 33, after receiving the second COVID-19 vaccine, he had a heart attack.
“Since then, I’ve been really digging into this issue and wrapping my arms around those who’ve been injured by vaccines,” he said. “I get called an anti-vaxxer, even though I’ve got the vaccine, and I just don’t think that’s helpful.”
Democrats maintain these bills are not pushing mandated vaccinations.
“At the end of the day, we all want peace of mind, and the assurance that our families are safe and healthy,” said state Rep. Morgan Foreman, D-Pittsfield Twp. “Our package ensures that families who choose not to immunize their children, and families who cannot afford the risk of those preventable illnesses, can both have it.”
In the proposals:
• House Bill 5344 requires all schools to release an immunization status report on its students.
• House Bill 5345 requires all licensed child care centers, group child care homes, and family child care homes to track and release an immunization status report on the enrolled children.
• House Bill 5346 requires the “childhood immunization registry” be accessible and updated with school vaccination information.
• House Bill 5347 requires all parents of school-enrolled children complete a signed “statement or form” on their child’s vaccination status.
• House Bill 5348 details that a state form must be used for students receiving an exemption.
• House Bill 5349 requires that a nonmedical exemption form for school children be obtained in person from a local health department.
• House Bill 5350 requires local health officers submit a report regarding immunization levels and exemptions.
• House Bill 5351 changes the way immunization standards by the Michigan advisory committee on immunizations are determined, requiring “evidenced-backed data.”
• House Bill 5352 requires the Michigan advisory committee on immunizations be consulted before changes are made to state’s vaccine recommendations, including the childhood vaccine schedule.
• House Bill 5353 requires insurance companies to continue covering certain recommended immunizations even if the federal government moves away from its recommendations.
• House Bill 5354 expands who is allowed to issue a “standing order” for a drug, meaning one that does not identify a specific patient and can be used for mass-rollouts during
Democrats applaud these bills.
“Our legislation informs and empowers parents to make those choices,” said state Rep. Phil Skaggs, D-East Grand Rapids.
Paquette disagreed, explaining that many of the proposed bills sound “a lot of alarm bells” for him. Instead, he is hopeful Democrat and Republican lawmakers will work together to address the issue and better Michigan’s health system.
“Health policy is something that we all should be deeply engaged in,” he said. “We need to really work to rebuild trust in the medical community, and we need to support that, but then also support people that choose not to get certain vaccines for their children.”
