Parents, Providers Praise Governor Snyder for Opposition to Vaccine Waiver Bills Threatening Kids’ H

LANSING, MI – May 2, 2017 – Physician, nurse and health care leaders from across Michigan today issued the following statement praising Governor Rick Snyder for announcing yesterday his opposition to

legislation that would repeal childhood immunization guidelines developed in 2014 and approved by the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Administrative Rules: Governor Snyder’s opposition to House Bills 4425 and 4426 is great news for the health and safety of Michigan kids. Childhood immunizations protect children, their families, friends, and neighbors from dangerous infectious diseases like measles, mumps and whooping cough. Michigan’s new rule providing parents with information about vaccines has already made a huge difference for thousands of children, with 18,000 fewer non-medical waivers reported since it went into effect, and waiver rates dropping by 33 percent statewide.

“We are proud of Governor Snyder’s decision to oppose bills that would undo this remarkable progress and threaten the health and safety of our children, especially those who cannot safely be immunized because of other health concerns.”

PIN is made up of Michigan’s leading health care providers, including the Michigan Academy of Family Physicians, Michigan State Medical Society, Michigan Osteopathic Association, Michigan Chapter of the American Academy Page 2 of 2 of Pediatrics, Michigan State Medical Society Alliance, Michigan Association for Local Public Health, the Michigan Association of School Nurses, the Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health, the Michigan Council of Nurse Practitioners, the Michigan Health & Hospital Association, the School Community Health Alliance of Michigan, the Michigan Association of United Ways, the Michigan Association of Health Plans, the Michigan Academy of Physician Assistants, the Franny Strong Foundation, the Cooperative for Safe Kids, and the Northern Michigan Vaccine Preventable Disease Task Force. PIN works together to better educate parents about the importance of childhood immunizations.