Michigan Parents Face Conflicting Vaccine Advice as Trump Pushes 6.2% Waiver-State Toward Schedule Changes
Updated
Updated · Detroit News · Aug 22
Michigan Parents Face Conflicting Vaccine Advice as Trump Pushes 6.2% Waiver-State Toward Schedule Changes
2 articles · Updated · Detroit News · Aug 22
Summary
Michigan parents are weighing conflicting childhood vaccine guidance as children return to school after Trump proposed fewer routine shots, longer gaps between doses and eventually splitting the MMR vaccine.
Michigan health officials still back schedules from the American Academy of Pediatrics and other medical groups, saying the scientific evidence has not changed and recent federal shifts bypassed the usual review process.
Federal officials argue the changes would give families and doctors more flexibility and mirror some peer countries, but critics say delaying shots also delays protection and adds visits that can lead to missed vaccinations.
Michigan already has a measles outbreak across multiple counties, and the state's vaccine waiver rate hit 6.2% in 2024—the highest since 2013—with 6.8% of kindergarteners holding at least one waiver.