Michigan state Rep. Jamie Thompson touts endorsement from anti-vaccine mandate group

Michigan state Rep. Jamie Thompson (R-Brownstown Township), a nurse, is highlighting a recent endorsement from Stand for Health Freedom, a political advocacy organization that actively lobbies against vaccine mandates, including standard immunization requirements for public school students.

Thompson, a Republican who represents Michigan’s 28th House District, shared the endorsement on her Instagram page.

“This endorsement comes at a pivotal moment as America’s New Majority continues to rise, a clear sign that voters are ready for leaders who stand for freedom, accountability and common sense,” Thompson’s post says.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by State Representative Jamie Thompson (@jamiethompsonmi28)

Thompson’s opposition to vaccine mandates presents a sharp contrast to her background as a nurse, as major medical organizations overwhelmingly support standard childhood immunizations.

Stand for Health Freedom describes its mission as advocating for “informed consent” and parental rights, though it is primarily known for organizing opposition to vaccine mandates. The endorsement aligns with Thompson’s platform. During her campaigns, she has been a vocal proponent of “medical freedom,” explicitly stating her opposition to vaccine mandates of any kind.

All 50 states require students to obtain certain vaccinations before attending public schools. In Michigan, children must obtain doses for polio, hepatitis B, chickenpox, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, mumps and rubella before public school entry. Parents who do not vaccinate their children must provide proof of immunity or obtain a nonmedical immunization waiver, which requires receiving education about the benefits of vaccination.

Thompson’s office did not respond to a request for comment.

Stand for Health Freedom’s endorsement comes amid a broader, coordinated push by the organization to roll back longstanding public health protections. A recent PBS News investigation found the group is actively involved in lobbying statehouses not just to ban vaccine requirements, but to remove fluoride from public drinking water and legalize the sale of unpasteurized “raw” milk.

GOP pushes against mandates

Vaccine requirements have remained a heavily debated issue in Michigan politics, with conservative lawmakers frequently pushing to roll back public health executive powers and school mandates. Last year, state Republican lawmakers introduced a package of bills to roll back vaccination regulations, including:

• HB 4552: Would allow students to attend schools without immunity documentation, prohibit the state from imposing additional requirements for immunization exemption and prohibit the state from requiring parents to use vaccine exemption forms.
• HB 4553: Would allow parents to satisfy immunization requirements due to religious convictions or objection to immunization.
• HB 4475: Would prohibit state and local government entities, private universities and community colleges from denying services, educational opportunities, health care access or employment based on an individual’s vaccination status.

The anti-mandate movement has coincided with a severe drop in standard vaccination rates across the state. According to a recent Michigan Medicine study, completion rates for routine toddler immunizations in Michigan dropped from nearly 76% to 67% between 2017 and 2023. Public health officials note these falling rates have paved the way for recent outbreaks of preventable diseases, including a 2025 spike in measles and over 800 cases of whooping cough statewide.