Sarah Bennett
In Michigan, the topic of childhood vaccinations has been a contentious issue, with some parents refusing to vaccinate their children due to personal beliefs or concerns about vaccine safety. While the federal government does not mandate child immunizations, individual states and local school districts may have their own requirements. In Michigan, parents who choose not to vaccinate their children may be subject to legal consequences, including jail time if their child's lack of vaccination results in truancy from school. Falling vaccination rates in the state have led to outbreaks of measles and whooping cough, with health experts emphasizing the importance of vaccinating children to protect them from serious diseases.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Vaccination requirements | Decided by individual states or local school districts |
| Vaccination waiver | Required from the local health department |
| Vaccination refusal | Children not permitted to attend school, parents can be jailed for pupil's truancy |
| Vaccination rates | Falling in recent years |
| Vaccination coverage for MMR | Down to 79.4% in March 2025 |
| Vaccination coverage for DTaP | 72.5% in December 2024 |
| Vaccines for COVID-19 | Safe and highly effective |
| Vaccination for children under 16 | Not yet available |
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What You'll Learn
- Michigan law requires a waiver from the local health department if parents choose not to vaccinate their children
- Parents who don't comply with school vaccination guidelines can be jailed for their child's truancy
- Doctors are increasingly firing patients who refuse to vaccinate their children
- Vaccines are safe and effective for people 16 and older
- Michigan is experiencing a rise in measles and whooping cough due to declining childhood vaccination rates
Michigan law requires a waiver from the local health department if parents choose not to vaccinate their children
In Michigan, parents can choose not to vaccinate their children. However, if they do so, Michigan law requires them to obtain a waiver from their local health department. This waiver must be presented to the child's school before the child can begin their schooling. Without this waiver, the child will not be allowed to attend school, and the parent could face legal consequences for their child's truancy.
This requirement is in place due to the potential health risks posed by unvaccinated children, particularly in a school setting. In Michigan, there has been a concerning decline in childhood vaccination rates, which has contributed to outbreaks of measles and whooping cough. Measles, in particular, is highly contagious, and the state confirmed its first measles outbreak in 2025, with nine cases reported statewide.
The low vaccination rates have caused alarm among health experts, who stress the importance of vaccinating children to protect them from serious diseases. Vaccines are safe and effective, providing a high level of protection against diseases such as measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR). The MMR vaccine, for example, offers 97% protection after two doses and 93% after a single dose.
While some parents may have concerns about vaccines, the benefits of vaccinating children far outweigh any potential risks. By obtaining a waiver and choosing not to vaccinate, parents not only put their children at risk but also contribute to the decline in herd immunity, impacting the wider community.
It is worth noting that doctors in Michigan, and across the United States, have also increasingly "fired" patients who refuse to vaccinate their children. This action is taken due to the risk unvaccinated children pose to other patients, especially those too young to be vaccinated or with compromised immune systems.
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Parents who don't comply with school vaccination guidelines can be jailed for their child's truancy
In Michigan, parents are required to send their children to public schools unless they meet certain criteria for exemption under MCL 380.1561(3). One such exemption is if the child is being educated at home by their parent or legal guardian in an organized educational program covering the core subjects. If parents do not comply with this requirement and their children are found to be "truant", they can face legal consequences.
Truancy is considered a crime in Michigan, and parents can be held responsible if their child does not regularly attend school as required by law. The penalties for truancy can include fines, probation, or even incarceration. While schools typically make efforts to resolve attendance issues before involving the legal system, parents who repeatedly fail to ensure their child's attendance can be charged with a misdemeanor. The punishment for this misdemeanor can include a fine of between $5 and $50, up to 90 days in jail, or both. It is important to note that prior to March 2021, there was a minimum punishment of 2 days in jail for truancy, but this has since been repealed.
In the context of vaccination, if a parent does not comply with a school's vaccination guidelines, their child is not permitted to attend school. As a result, if the child is absent from school due to not meeting vaccination requirements, the parent can be considered responsible for their child's truancy and may face legal consequences, including the possibility of jail time. This has been a reality for some parents in Michigan, as seen in the case of a Michigan mother who was jailed for refusing to vaccinate her son.
It is worth noting that the federal government does not mandate child immunisation but rather issues recommendations. The specific requirements for vaccination are determined by individual states or local school districts. In Michigan, parents have the right to make decisions regarding their children's health and well-being, but they must also comply with the state's laws and guidelines, including those related to vaccination and education. While some parents may strongly oppose certain vaccinations, the consequences of non-compliance can include not only jail time but also the removal of custody, as seen in the case of the Michigan mother, where temporary custody was granted to the child's father.
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Doctors are increasingly firing patients who refuse to vaccinate their children
In Michigan, there is no federal control over child immunisation, and requirements are decided by individual states or local school districts. If parents do not comply with a school's vaccination guidelines, their children are not permitted to attend school, and the parents can be jailed for their child's truancy. In 2017, a Michigan mother was sent to prison for seven days for refusing to vaccinate her son.
Doctors are increasingly "firing" patients who refuse to vaccinate their children. This controversial practice is due to the risk unvaccinated children pose to other patients, especially those too young to be vaccinated. For example, an unvaccinated child visited a doctor's office in Michigan with a high fever, and the doctor feared the patient might have meningitis, a contagious and potentially deadly infection.
Physicians struggle with how to respond to families who refuse vaccines, as there are few known effective interventions to convince a family to vaccinate. Some doctors have tried requiring parents to sign a vaccine refusal form or recommending that parents inform urgent care providers about their child's vaccination status, but these techniques are not very effective. Additionally, almost half of physicians report decreased job satisfaction due to the time spent discussing vaccines with vaccine-hesitant parents.
Some argue that dismissing families who refuse vaccines is a form of coercion that infringes on the ethical principle of autonomy. Others argue that allowing parents to refuse vaccinations violates the principle of beneficence by putting their children at risk for preventable diseases. However, dismissing patients also potentially infringes on the principle of beneficence as it could limit access to healthcare and increase healthcare disparities, especially in rural areas with few pediatric providers.
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Vaccines are safe and effective for people 16 and older
In Michigan, the decision to vaccinate children is left to the individual state or local school districts. Failure to comply with a school's vaccination guidelines can result in the child being barred from attending school, and parents may face legal consequences for their child's truancy. In one instance, a Michigan mother was imprisoned for a week for refusing to vaccinate her nine-year-old son.
Vaccines are a proven method to protect oneself from serious diseases. The COVID-19 vaccines, for example, have been deemed safe and highly effective by Michigan Hospital Chief Medical Officers. While the vaccines have provided hope, the surge in cases and new variants are concerning. The vaccines are over 99% effective in preventing illness, hospitalization, and death in Michigan, and they are recommended for people 16 and older (Pfizer for 16 and up, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson for 18 and up).
The flu vaccine is available for everyone aged six months or older, and the RSV vaccine is recommended for adults 75 and older and those aged 50-74 with specific health conditions. For COVID-19 vaccines, the FDA has implemented certain restrictions, and the availability of vaccines for children has changed. Previously, children as young as six months old could be vaccinated, but now the minimum age for vaccination is five years old, and insurance coverage for the vaccine is dependent on state recommendations.
Overall, vaccines are a safe and effective way to protect oneself from serious diseases, and they are recommended for individuals 16 and older, with specific vaccines available for younger age groups as well.
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Michigan is experiencing a rise in measles and whooping cough due to declining childhood vaccination rates
In Michigan, parents are not legally required to vaccinate their children to attend school. However, schools may exclude unvaccinated students during outbreaks to protect other students and staff. Michigan is currently experiencing outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles and whooping cough (pertussis).
As of July 22, 2025, Michigan was one of 40 jurisdictions reporting a total of 1,319 confirmed measles cases. The state has reported outbreaks in multiple counties, including Montcalm, Grand Traverse, Muskegon, Kent, and Osceola. Health officials urge families to ensure their children are up to date on vaccinations, including the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine.
Whooping cough cases are also on the rise in Michigan. In 2024, the state recorded 473 cases as of October 5, a significant increase from the 58 cases reported by that date in 2023. Whooping cough is a highly contagious disease that tends to peak every few years, and outbreaks commonly occur in schools, childcare centers, hospitals, and large cities.
The surge in measles and whooping cough cases in Michigan coincides with a decline in childhood vaccination rates. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), exemption rates among kindergarteners in the 2024-25 school year have risen since the pandemic began. Experts warn that even slight decreases in vaccination rates can have significant impacts, especially with highly infectious diseases like measles.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Michigan law requires children to be vaccinated. If a parent does not comply with a school's vaccination guidelines, the child is not permitted to attend school and the parent can be jailed for the pupil's truancy.
If you choose to waive childhood vaccinations for your child, Michigan law requires a parent to get a waiver from their local health department. If a child is not current with their immunizations and no waiver has been given to the school, the child will not be allowed to attend school.
Health experts have raised concerns about declining childhood immunization rates in Michigan, which has led to a surge in cases of measles and whooping cough. These diseases can be dangerous, especially for infants who are too young to be vaccinated.
Doctors are increasingly "firing" patients who refuse to vaccinate their children. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) does not recommend firing patients but asks doctors to keep seeing children and stressing the importance of vaccines unless there is a significant health risk.
