New Rule for Parents Seeking Vaccination Waivers
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has new requirements for parents wishing to obtain vaccination waivers.
Michigan parents who want to opt out of vaccinations for their children must now get the forms from their local health department instead of mailing in requests. It’s part of the state Department of Health and Human Services’ initiative to inform residents about the benefits of vaccinations.
Spokesperson Jennifer Smith says local health departments will educate parents on the safety of immunizations before providing waivers.
“Pockets in the state where vaccination coverage is low are more susceptible to vaccine-preventable diseases,” Smith says. “We know that vaccine-preventable diseases are serious and can have deadly consequences. So we really want to see an accurate exchange of information happening between parents and the local health department.”
Smith says the rule change only applies to parents who want a vaccination waiver for non-medical reasons.
